Sterling arrested for helping 10 inmates escape Orleans Parish facility

Sterling Williams, a 33-year-old maintenance worker at Orleans Parish Jail, has been arrested in connection with the escape of 10 inmates from that jail on Friday.

Sterling was arrested on Tuesday morning and charged with 10 counts of principle to simple escape and malfeasance in office.

This was confirmed by Attorney General Liz Murrill.

“Williams admitted to agents that one of the escapees advised him to turn the water off in the cell where the inmates escaped from,” Murrill said in the statement. “Instead of reporting the inmate, Williams turned the water off as directed allowing the inmates to carry out their scheme to successfully escape.”

The statement said that he was booked into the Orleans Parish Jail, the same one from which he allegedly helped the inmates escape, but that he will be transferred to a different facility.

“This is a continuing investigation, and we will provide updates as often as possible. We will uncover all the facts eventually and anyone who aided and abetted will be prosecuted to the full extent the law allows. I encourage anyone who knows anything and even those who may have provided assistance to come forward now to obtain the best possible outcome in their particular case,” said Murrill.