Sheriff Susan Hutson indicted in connection with investigation into New Orleans jailbreak

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A special grand jury in New Orleans indicted outgoing Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson on Wednesday, according to multiple sources including an official with the Clerk of Criminal Court.

Attorney General Liz Murrill’s office confirmed that Hutson faces 30 felony counts, while the agency’s chief financial officer Bianka Brown was charged with 20 counts.

The indictment charges Hutson with 14 counts of malfeasance in office, four counts of conspiracy to commit malfeasance, three counts of filing or maintaining false public records, three counts of obstruction of justice, and three conspiracy counts for obstruction. Criminal District Judge Pro Tem Franz Zibilich set a $300,000 bond for Hutson. The sheriff, who has days left in office, did not respond to a phone message seeking comment.

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"Nearly a year ago, I made a commitment to the people of New Orleans and the people of our state that those responsible for the Orleans Parish Prison break would be held accountable,” it read.

“While Sheriff Hutson did not personally open the doors of the jail for the escapees, her refusal to comply with basic legal requirements and to take even minimal precautions in the discharge of her duties directly contributed to and enabled the escape.”

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