Federal lawsuit alleges guard raped female inmate at East Baton Rouge Parish Prison

BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — A federal lawsuit filed against two deputies employed at the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison and East Baton Rouge Sheriff Sid Gautreaux alleges that a female deputy acted as a “pimp” for her male co-workers, forcing a female inmate to have sex.

According to the lawsuit, the sexual assault victim, identified by the pseudonym T.N., was approached by the female deputy on June 10, 2024. The female deputy told T.N. that “someone was interested in her.”

The following week, around June 17, 2024, T.N. was told to go to the prison library, where she met a male guard at the jail who told her that he was sexually interested in her and wanted a sexual relationship.

The lawsuit alleges T.N. was afraid to say no, so she agreed. The pair engaged in sexual relations in a classroom at the jail.

The next day, T.N., the plaintiff in the lawsuit, asked the nurse to bring her a Plan B pill, which is an emergency contraceptive. The legal document states the nurse “asked no questions and gave her the pill.”

According to the lawsuit, the guard and the female inmate continued to have sex for weeks.

Later in the summer, the guard asked T.N. to have sex with with him and another deputy. T.N. became disgusted with the guard’s request and cut off all contact.

The female guard continued to operate as a “pimp” for the male guard, setting up sexual liasons with the guards on her shift and other female inmates.

Another female at the prison, identified only as S.M. in the lawsuit, noticed T.N., distraught and running away from the male guard. Once T.N. shared that she feared retaliation if she came forward, S.M. wrote a letter through the prison kiosk to Warden Cathy Fontenot, informing her about the rapes.

On October 9, 2024, a captain who worked at the jail interviewed T.N. After they spoke, the captain told T.N. that he believed her because officials had videos of T.N. being let out of her cell after “lights out,” and that could only be done by deputies.

The captain referred the case to the Special Investigation Division of the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office for an investigation of the guard’s alleged sexual misconduct.

The lawsuit reveals that during the investigation, detectives found videos of the guard beating inmates at the jail who were in handcuffs.

On October 10, 2024, EBRSO applied for an arrest warrant for malfeasance in office for the beatings, but not for the sexuals assaults, according to court documents.

The male guard was arrested for beating the inmates and possession of marijuana after a search of his home revealed that he had about three ounces of marijuana.

According to the lawsuit filed, after DNA swabs were taken, T.N. was allegedly never interviewed by law enforcement about the rapes again.

On October 10, 2024, Warden Fontenot transferred T.N. to the Livingston Parish Jail to protect her from potential retaliation by guards at the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison.

The lawsuit also states that the victim had to get medicine for emotional trauma and had trouble sleeping.

In November and December 2024, EBRSO forensic deputies took a DNA sample from T.N.

According to the suit, the investigation ended without an arrest.

The lawsuit goes on to say none of the deputies involved in the case have been arrested or prosecuted for the rapes. A review of the East Baton Rouge Clerk of Court’s criminal records shows none of the deputies were arrested for sexual assaults on prisoners, nor was an arrest warrant requested by EBRSO.

Louisiana law prohibits guards from having sex with inmates. LRS 14:134.1 states “It shall be unlawful and constitute malfeasance in office for any of the following persons to engage in sexual intercourse or any other sexual conduct with a person who is under their supervision and who is confined in a prison, jail, work release facility, or correctional institution, or under the supervision of the division of probation and parole, or who is detained or arrested.”

The East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office issued the following statement in response to the incident.

The East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office conducted a thorough criminal investigation following an inmate’s allegation against a deputy. During the course of that investigation, detectives obtained a search warrant for the deputy’s phone. While sufficient evidence was not found to support the initial allegations, detectives did uncover evidence of battery involving that deputy and two others against a different inmate.
As a result of that evidence, the deputy —Elijah Christopher — was arrested and terminated from the agency in October 2024. We were transparent at the time and issued a public statement detailing the charges, including battery and malfeasance in office. In addition, the search warrant was publicly released and included information about the initial allegations.
The second deputy named in the civil lawsuit fully cooperated with investigators during the original inquiry, and no evidence was found to support any criminal wrongdoing on her part.
Regarding the original sexual assault complaint, the complainant ceased cooperating with investigators, and the investigation was suspended pending any new evidence or further engagement from the complainant. Should she wish to resume cooperation, our detectives remain available and willing to continue the investigation.
The Sheriff’s Office remains committed to accountability and transparency, as evidenced by the swift and public action taken against a former deputy when evidence supported criminal charges.
Because this matter is now the subject of pending litigation, we will not be commenting further at this time.

East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office

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