St. John the Baptist sheriff arrests former deputy, chaplain accused of bringing contraband into jail
Published 7:06 pm Tuesday, November 19, 2024
- The former deputy Jeff Patterson arrested for bringing contraband into the parish jail. Credit: SJBSO
A former deputy with the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office has been arrested for bringing contraband into the parish jail in Laplace.
This was announced by the sheriff’s office after the conclusion of an internal investigation where he was caught on surveillance camera taking contraband into the parish jail. The former deputy Jeff Patterson was arrested on Friday and booked with two counts of contraband and two counts of malfeasance in office.
The 62-year-old was employed for six years and worked as a chaplain in the parish jail in LaPlace, according to the sheriff’s office.
During the investigation, Patterson admitted he deliberately violated the law and department policy. Patterson was terminated and later arrested. He was released after posting bond.
A second person was arrested on Monday, Nov. 18, in connection with the investigation. Chelsea Sanderson, 28, was arrested and booked with conspiracy to bring contraband in a penal institution. Sanderson is being held in the parish jail under a $10,000 bond.
Eli Moore, an inmate in the Sherman Walker Correctional Facility, also was arrested in connection to this investigation. Moore has been booked with conspiracy to bring contraband in a penal institution. He remains in custody in the parish jail.
