A grand jury in New Orleans has indicted Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson on 30 counts, including malfeasance, obstruction of justice, and falsifying public records, following an investigation into a May 2025 jailbreak involving 10 inmates. The escape occurred at the Orleans Justice Center, where inmates crawled through a hole behind a toilet and scaled a barbed wire fence. Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill stated that Hutson’s poor management of the jail directly contributed to the escape, though she was not accused of aiding the inmates. All escapees were eventually captured after a monthslong manhunt.
Hutson, who lost her reelection and is set to leave office on Monday, has been ordered to surrender her passport and not leave the state. Bond was set at $300,000. In a farewell address, Hutson acknowledged the challenges her office faced but emphasized professionalism and resilience. Bianka Brown, the sheriff’s office chief financial officer, was also indicted on 20 similar charges.
The escapees left graffiti reading “To Easy LoL” behind. Murrill’s office noted that the investigation involved state and federal law enforcement partners, with all escapees now back in custody. Hutson’s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.