Sheriff Accused of Plotting to Violate Civil Rights in Louisiana through Physical Assaults while Endorsing 'In God We Trust' Slogan
On March 4, 2016, Louisiana KATC-3 News reported an indictment against Sheriff Louis M. Ackal of Iberia Parish. The indictment, handed down by a Grand Jury in 2016, involves civil rights violations related to the assault of five inmates in the jail chapel in April 2011.
The assaults were allegedly carried out by a total of 10 current and former employees of the Iberia Parish Sheriff's Office, as part of a federal probe into misconduct at the office. Byron Lassalle, a former employee, pleaded guilty last month in connection with the assault on one of the inmates.
According to the indictment, Wesley Hayes, the former warden, directed Lassalle to the chapel where the assault occurred. Lassalle, under the orders of Ackal and Lt. Col. Gerald Savoy, allegedly beat an inmate with batons, with Ackal and Savoy watching.
Each of the three individuals faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for each civil rights violation, and a potential $250,000 fine for each count. The assaults were carried out in the jail chapel, which was chosen because it was not under video surveillance.
The indictment is detailed in the document titled "Ackal01.pdf". For further information, one may refer to local Louisiana news outlets or official court records.
- The indictment relevant to Sheriff Louis M. Ackal of Iberia Parish, handed down in 2016, encompasses policy-and-legislation violations related to civil rights.
- The crime-and-justice case involving Sheriff Ackal and other employees of the Iberia Parish Sheriff's Office, as well as related political matters, are often covered in local general-news outlets.
