The lawyer of Sterling Williams, a maintenance worker charged with and arrested for allegedly helping 10 inmates escape a New Orleans prison facility, on Wednesday countered the official version that Williams "wilfully and maliciously" assisted the group.
The worker had "no idea" about the men's plan and was not involved when they cut a pipe behind the toilet to create an opening for their escape, his attorney Michael Kennedy told news agency AP.
Also Read | New Orleans prison break: Two women arrested for aiding fugitives, bringing food and driving them around
According to authorities, one of the inmates instructed the 33-year-old to turn off the water to a toilet, leading to one of the largest jailbreaks in the recent US history.
While five have been re-captured, the others are still on the run.
'Inmates used Williams as a ‘tool’ to escape, lawyer says
As per Kennedy, the attorney, Williams found a toilet overflowing after being called by a deputy to check it.
“This was clearly all part of an orchestrated plan. Sterling was nothing more than the tool the men used to turn off the water, which they knew would have to happen after clogging the toilet,” he said.
An arrest affidavit which made no mention of a clogged toilet, stated that Williams was “initially very evasive and untruthful” during an interview but ultimately told investigators an inmate had threatened to “shank” (stab) him if he did not turn off the water. Williams could have reported the threat and the escape plan, authorities say. They asserted that because he turned the water off, group was “able to successfully make good” on their escape, the affidavit mentioned.
Kennedy said Williams did not report the escape because the latter was “not aware” it was happening. The lawyer also addressed authorities’ statements that his client was "threatened" into helping the escape.
“He was not aware that there was going to be an escape. He was not conspiring with them. He had no knowledge that he was being used.”
‘A scapegoat’
Kennedy further claimed he was only able to meet with Williams for around 30 minutes via Zoom.
“The most important thing I’ve learned is that these charges are ridiculous and the sheriff’s office is trying to use him as a scapegoat to minimize their own embarrassment. Sterling did nothing more than the job they pay him to do and now they’re attempting to sacrifice him for it,” he stated.
The maintenance worker is charged with 10 counts of principal to simple escape and one count of malfeasance in office.
The worker had "no idea" about the men's plan and was not involved when they cut a pipe behind the toilet to create an opening for their escape, his attorney Michael Kennedy told news agency AP.
Also Read | New Orleans prison break: Two women arrested for aiding fugitives, bringing food and driving them around
According to authorities, one of the inmates instructed the 33-year-old to turn off the water to a toilet, leading to one of the largest jailbreaks in the recent US history.
While five have been re-captured, the others are still on the run.
'Inmates used Williams as a ‘tool’ to escape, lawyer says
As per Kennedy, the attorney, Williams found a toilet overflowing after being called by a deputy to check it.
“This was clearly all part of an orchestrated plan. Sterling was nothing more than the tool the men used to turn off the water, which they knew would have to happen after clogging the toilet,” he said.
An arrest affidavit which made no mention of a clogged toilet, stated that Williams was “initially very evasive and untruthful” during an interview but ultimately told investigators an inmate had threatened to “shank” (stab) him if he did not turn off the water. Williams could have reported the threat and the escape plan, authorities say. They asserted that because he turned the water off, group was “able to successfully make good” on their escape, the affidavit mentioned.
Kennedy said Williams did not report the escape because the latter was “not aware” it was happening. The lawyer also addressed authorities’ statements that his client was "threatened" into helping the escape.
“He was not aware that there was going to be an escape. He was not conspiring with them. He had no knowledge that he was being used.”
‘A scapegoat’
Kennedy further claimed he was only able to meet with Williams for around 30 minutes via Zoom.
“The most important thing I’ve learned is that these charges are ridiculous and the sheriff’s office is trying to use him as a scapegoat to minimize their own embarrassment. Sterling did nothing more than the job they pay him to do and now they’re attempting to sacrifice him for it,” he stated.
The maintenance worker is charged with 10 counts of principal to simple escape and one count of malfeasance in office.
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