Nine Escapees Plead Not Guilty After Recapture

Nine Former Jail Escapees Plead Not Guilty in New Orleans Case

Nine of the ten men who escaped from a New Orleans jail in May have pleaded not guilty to charges related to their escape. The hearing took place on Wednesday, July 23, and all nine individuals entered their pleas via Zoom. They are currently being held at Angola State Penitentiary, a maximum-security prison.

Each of the nine men faces a single count of simple escape, which is punishable by up to five years in prison. Despite the charges, none of them admitted guilt during the court proceedings. Joe Raspanti, a legal analyst for FOX 8, commented on the situation, saying, “No, it’s not unusual. It’s like saying the kicker must be angry at the football for starting the football game. This is just how it goes, they’re all going to plead not guilty and we’re going to take it from here.”

The case involves several high-profile escapees, including Antoine Massey, who was the last of the group to be recaptured nearly a month ago. Massey appeared before Judge Leon Roche and has since been taken into custody. However, he has not yet made any public statements regarding his case.

Raspanti noted that it's common for prosecutors to offer deals to some of the accused in exchange for information or testimony against others. “It’s always a possibility that the prosecution is going to make a deal to one or two or more of them to turn on the other guys, that’s just the nature of criminal law. Whether they do it or not, we’ll see,” he said.

Derrick Groves remains the only individual still at large among the original ten escapees. A $50,000 reward is still being offered for information leading to his capture. Darlene Cusanza, executive director of Crimestoppers, stated that tips are still coming in, though at a slower pace than initially expected. She encouraged the public to provide detailed information if they believe they have seen Groves.

Cusanza emphasized the importance of specific details when reporting sightings. “If you think you see him, where do you see him? What is he driving in? Who is he with? If you think he’s at a location, you know the time you saw him, what was he wearing?” she explained.

The $50,000 reward includes $30,000 from Crimestoppers in partnership with the ATF and an additional $20,000 from the FBI. Cusanza clarified the process for claiming the reward: “There’s Crimestoppers that ATF joined with, we have a $30,000 reward. You call us, you send us a tip, you have to come through Crimestoppers, you’re anonymous. There’s an additional $20,000 that’s available for the FBI. If you call us, we’re going to give you the number for the FBI that you could call, or you can call the FBI directly, but it’s a two-step process for the total 50,000.”

Louisiana State Police, which is leading the search for Groves, released a statement emphasizing their ongoing efforts. “With only one fugitive still at large, the Louisiana State Police continues to work alongside our local, state, and federal partners to investigate all information that may lead to the apprehension of Derrick Groves. These partnerships enhance our ability to employ a wide range of investigative techniques and ensure access to the necessary manpower and resources. Our focus remains unwavering, and we will not stop until Groves is in custody.”