"To Easy LoL" was reportedly scrawled at the scene of the Orleans Justice Center escape, a breach that took over seven hours to discover.
Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson and her Chief Financial Officer Bianka Brown have been indicted on multiple felony charges following the escape of 10 inmates from the Orleans Justice Center. The indictment was announced Wednesday by Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill.
The Charges
- Sheriff Susan Hutson faces 30 felony counts, including malfeasance in public office, filing or maintaining false records, obstruction of justice, and conspiracy to commit these offenses.
- Chief Financial Officer Bianka Brown was indicted on 20 counts of the same charges.
The Escape Incident
The escape occurred on May 16, 2025. The timeline of events is as follows:
- 1:00 a.m.: Inmates broke a door lock, moved a toilet, and accessed a hole in a wall to escape. They then scaled a barbed wire fence to exit the facility.
- 8:30 a.m. (over seven hours later): The escape was discovered during a routine headcount.
Graffiti reading "To Easy LoL" was found at the scene. All 10 inmates, aged 19–42, were recaptured by October 2025.
Allegations
The indictment alleges that Sheriff Hutson's management decisions enabled the escape, though she is not accused of direct participation. Specific allegations include:
- Noncompliance with basic legal requirements and failure to take adequate precautions.
- State auditors flagged approximately $260,000 in suspicious overpayments to deputies for security details.
- Previous reports during Hutson's tenure (beginning in 2022) included staffing scandals and allegations of overspending on hotel rooms for top officials during Mardi Gras.
Legal Proceedings
- Bond: Set at $300,000 for Sheriff Hutson and $200,000 for CFO Brown.
- Restrictions: Both defendants were ordered to surrender their passports and are prohibited from leaving Louisiana.
- Status Hearing: Scheduled for Thursday morning in New Orleans.
- Representation: It was not immediately clear if either defendant has retained legal representation.
Responses
"Sheriff Hutson's noncompliance with legal requirements and lack of precautions enabled the escape." — Attorney General Liz Murrill
Murrill also noted she has had "productive conversations" with the incoming sheriff about improving jail operations and financial oversight.
Sheriff Hutson has called the escape "a very serious and unacceptable situation" and stated her office responded with professionalism and resilience. In a farewell address, she attributed the escape to understaffing and jail design flaws. Hutson did not respond to additional requests for comment.
Sheriff-elect Michelle Woodfork, who defeated Hutson in the election following the escape, issued a statement saying her team is committed to accountability, transparency, and integrity. Woodfork's term begins May 4.
Background and Context
- 2022 Election: Hutson defeated longtime incumbent Marlin Gusman, becoming the first Black woman to hold the office of Orleans Parish Sheriff.
- 2025 Election: Voters elected Michelle Woodfork to replace Hutson, effective May 4.
- Federal Oversight: The Orleans Parish jail system has been under federal consent decree since 2013 due to decades of violence, corruption, and dysfunction. Federally appointed monitors had previously warned of inadequate staffing and increased internal escape attempts.