3rd woman arrested for allegedly assisting New Orleans inmate escapee still at large
A Slidell woman, Connie Weeden, has been arrested for allegedly helping a fugitive escape from the Orleans Justice Center in New Orleans. Louisiana State Police announced that Weeden, 59, was taken into custody and booked into the St. Tammany Parish Correctional Center on Thursday. She is accused of being an accessory after the fact to Jermaine Donald, one of the five escapees still at large.
According to LSP officials, Weeden was in contact with Donald both before and after the escape. It was determined that she provided him with cash through a cell phone app. Donald, along with four other escapees, broke out of the Orleans Justice Center on May 16. While five of the original 10 escapees have been recaptured, Donald remains on the run.
Law enforcement officials have issued a stern warning to anyone assisting fugitives. They stated that harboring fugitives is a serious offense that threatens the safety of communities and will not be tolerated. Under Louisiana law, a conviction for accessory after the fact carries a penalty of up to five years in prison, a fine of up to $500, or both.
In addition to Weeden, two other individuals have been arrested and charged with felony counts of being accessories after the fact. Cortnie Harris, 32, and Corvanntay Baptiste, 38, were both booked at the Plaquemines Parish Detention Center.
The Orleans Parish District Attorney has issued subpoenas to Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson and other OPSO staff members as part of an ongoing investigation into the inmate escape. The subpoenas demand access to emails, text messages, and internal messages related to the escape, including communications with Sterling Williams, a jail maintenance worker who was arrested in connection with the breakout.
Williams, 33, allegedly facilitated the escape by shutting off the water to a toilet, allowing the inmates to remove it and create a way out. Three of the escaped inmates are facing charges of second-degree murder. Williams was arrested and booked into jail on Tuesday, and four other jail employees have been suspended pending further investigation.
The investigation into the jailbreak continues as law enforcement officials work to bring all remaining escapees to justice.
