New Orleans inmate linked to jail break faces trial for rape charges in St. Tammany Parish
By Cassie Schirm
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COVINGTON, La. (WDSU) — A jury has been selected in St. Tammany Parish for an escaped inmate’s rape trial.
Antoine Massey is facing charges of rape, kidnapping, strangulation, domestic violence, and violating a protective order.
Massey, 32, is charged in St. Tammany Parish with rape, kidnapping, domestic violence involving strangulation, and violating a protective order.
The charges stem from a November 2024 incident, according to investigators. He has pleaded not guilty.
At the time of the May 16 jailbreak, Massey was already facing separate charges in Orleans Parish, including domestic battery and motor-vehicle theft.
Investigators say the woman he is accused of abusing later helped him while he was on the run.
She is now charged with obstruction of justice and being a principal to aggravated escape, after authorities said she communicated with Massey, knew of his plans in advance, and misled officers during the six-week manhunt.
Law enforcement records show Massey has a long history of escaping custody, beginning with a 2007 breakout from a juvenile detention center in New Orleans.
He later escaped from the Morehouse Parish Detention Center in 2019 and has twice cut off electronic ankle monitors, according to police and court documents.
During a months-long search earlier this year, a video circulated online showing a man who appeared to be Massey claiming he had been “let out” of jail and appealing for outside help. Law enforcement has since confirmed the video was of Massey.
Jury selection in the St. Tammany case took most of the day Monday.
Prosecutors and defense attorneys questioned potential jurors about whether they had seen media coverage of the jailbreak, Massey’s escape history, or the allegations in both parishes — and whether they could remain fair and impartial. A panel of twelve jurors and two alternates was ultimately seated.
Massey’s attorney, Bobby Hjortsberg, said his client is ready to fight the charges.
“We’ve maintained since the beginning that he’s not guilty of these charges, and we’re confident in the outcome,” Hjortsberg said. “Based on the evidence we’ve seen, I’m confident we can come out of this victoriously.”
Hjortsberg added that this is the first of the trials to come.
“We’re just excited to have the opportunity to go to trial,” he said. “This is one of his newer cases, and he’s excited to have his day in court.”
The trial is expected to last two days.
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