Orleans fugitive Antoine Massey is a four-time escapee, raising questions about his supervision

NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - A local provider of electronic monitors says at least one of the Orleans Parish fugitives should never have been given extended freedom of movement inside the lockup.

Matt Dennis says escapee Antoine Massey is a breakaway artist with a dangerous history.

“You’re astonished that they keep this level of risk on the first floor of that jail,” said Dennis, owner of New Orleans’ Assured Supervision Accountability Program (ASAP).

A jail maintenance worker -- 33-year-old Sterling Williams -- was arrested Monday on accusations of aiding the prisoners in their escape. Williams has told authorities that Massey threatened to stab him if he didn’t turn off the water to a toilet that the inmates tore from a cell wall as part of their escape plan.

“There isn’t an ounce of this man’s history that doesn’t say ‘escape,’” Dennis said.

Dennis says Massey, wanted for rape and kidnapping in St. Tammany Parish, and accused of domestic abuse and theft in Orleans Parish, has three prior escapes dating back to 2007. Dennis said the lengthy escape history meant he was no longer a candidate to be released from custody on an electronic ankle monitor if he made bond.

Massey was one of 10 inmates seen jumping off of a jail loading dock on May 16, an escape caught on a surveillance camera that was not being monitored in real time.

ORLEANS JAILBREAK

• Government watchdog BGR issues recommendations to improve Orleans Parish jail operations; Sen. Cassidy weighs in on escape
• Corey Boyd recaptured, leaving five Orleans fugitives still at large
• Orleans fugitive Antoine Massey is a four-time escapee, raising questions about his supervision
• Sheriff Hutson announces temporary suspension of her re-election campaign

As New Orleans City Council members investigate vulnerabilities in the jail security system, Dennis said he is assisting police trying to locate the escapees.

“The minute these escapes happened, State Police, New Orleans police, and US marshals went instantly into our Information management system and identified individuals who wore our ankle monitors,” Dennis said.

Dennis says that when someone cuts off an ankle monitor, he notifies the public immediately. Last Friday, it took the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office more than seven hours to realize the escape had occurred and another two-plus hours before notifying the NOPD and public, after media outlets had reported the news.

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