IBERIA PARISH, La. (KLFY) – There’s a new warden in Iberia Parish as the former warden, Paul Scott, heads back to his home Parish of St. Mary to man the facilities at St. Mary Parish Jail following a rash of escapes.

In 2016, actions at the Iberia Parish Jail landed the sheriff and several deputies in federal prison.

Sheriff Ackal was found not guilty on civil rights violations but a few deputies along with former Warden Wesley Hayes are serving federal jail time.

Wesley Hayes was the Warden of the jail when deputies beat inmates without cause in 2011.

Hayes is now serving 34 months in a place he was once the in charge.

After the most recent former warden Paul Scott accepted a position at the St. Mary Parish Jail, Sheriff Louis Ackal prompted an old colleague, Major Anthony Green.

“Knowing the major as well as I know him I know that he is going to be the individual that will keep the jail in line, keep the inmates in line, keep their employees in line,” the sheriff said.

Warden Anthony Green is a former Marine and has worked in law enforcement since 2008 when Sheriff Ackal was first elected. 

He’s held many titles: from sales, to captain of the fleet, supervising neighbor watch, among others, and now warden of Iberia Parish Jail.

Warden Green says, “We learn from our past mistakes. I can assure you that it won’t happen in my administration but, I won’t take credit for that. I think Paul Scott and the sheriff put a lot of things in place to assure those things will not happen.”

In 2016 during the sheriff’s trial, Green testified Sheriff Ackal treated him like a brother.

We were curious as to how that will impact their working relationship.

“We don’t like to disappoint one another. I want him to be successful and to make him successful I have to be successful, myself. I would not want anything to happen that might hurt  his legacy.”
 
One of the measures the sheriff was proud of, a camera was set up in the chapel and the curtains were removed.

If you can remember, deputies and inmates testified to the chapel, a place for worship, was often used as a private place to assault inmates.

The sheriff says with these changes and new leadership, the jail will continue to move in a positive direction.