NEW ORLEANS -- An Orleans Parish Sheriff's deputy has been indicted and jailed after allegedly helping inmates stage a brutal knife attack against another inmate.
Deputy John Dupart, 42, is accused of malfeasance and aggravated battery after allegedly leaving a door open so that several inmates could launch the attack that nearly cost another inmate his life.
Six inmates – Lonnie Ingram, Cody Darrius Knox, Joshua Domino, Frederick Johnson, Marvin Banks and Tyrone Knockum – were indicted for attempted second-degree murder in the attack. Two others – Alfred Clay and Cody Williams – were charged with obstruction of justice.
Four of the eight inmates were in jail awaiting trial on charges as alleged members of the 3-N-G drug gang.
Dupart's bail was set at $750,000. Jeffrey Smith, Dupart's attorney, said his client is innocent.
"He is a well-respected deputy from the judges on down," Smith said. "I have known him from court and from working in the prison and I truly believe he is completely innocent. He has absolutely no gang affiliations. He's a family man."
Smith filed a motion for a bond reduction, which is scheduled to be heard on Dec. 16 at the same time as Dupart's arraignment.
Smith said the bail amount is extremely high for battery and malfeasance charges, but apparently reflects the alleged conspiracy with inmates labelled as gang members.
Clay, Knox, Ingram and Knockum have been behind bars for several years for the alleged roles in one of the city's most notorious street gangs.
Knockum and Knox are awaiting trial for murder connected in connection with the gang, which is named for the intersection of 3rd and Galvez where police say the group controlled the heroin and cocaine trade. Clay and Ingram are awaiting trial on gang-related heroin and cocaine charges. All four men face racketeering charges for the alleged gang ties.
In a press release, the Sheriff's Office said it launched its investigation in September after the knife attack.
"In mid-September, the Sheriff's Office launched its investigation, which determined that Deputy Dupart failed to follow procedures that resulted in an altercation at an OPSO jail facility," according to the press statement. "Prior to the indictment, Deputy Dupart was administratively reassigned."
Dupart was suspended Thursday following his indictment and he will remain off the job pending the outcome of his case, the sheriff's office stated.
"The Sheriff's Office is committed to keeping everyone in our facilities safe," Sheriff Marlin Gusman is quoted in the press release. "If anyone – including deputies – compromises that safety, we will take all necessary corrective actions."
Gusman thanked the District Attorney's Office for "strengthening the case against Deputy Dupart that resulted in the indictment and today's arrest."
