The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Lafayette announced late Tuesday afternoon that Iberia Parish Sheriff Louis Ackal was indicted and charged with federal civil rights violations stemming from a 2011 incident at the Iberia Parish Jail in which five inmates were beaten by deputies. Also indicted Tuesday is the Gerald Savoy, the department’s lieutenant colonel.
According the feds, Ackal is facing “one count of conspiracy against rights and two counts of deprivation of rights under color of law, and Savoy is charged with one count of conspiracy against rights and one count of deprivation of rights under color of law.”
The Associated Press is reporting that Ackal is accused of directing deputies to assault the inmates in the jail's chapel where there are no video surveillance cameras, and that Ackal and Savoy watched as the assaults took place.
Eight former Iberia Sheriff’s Office employees have already pleaded guilty to charges related to the case including the jail’s warden and assistant warden.