Eight former Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office employees have already entered guilty pleas for beating detainees at the parish jail.

On Wednesday, Sheriff Louis Ackal and Lieutenant Colonel, Gerald Savoy were indicted for playing a role in the assault of the victims.

Civil rights violations anchor the charges against Sheriff Ackal, Colonel Savoy and eight other now-former sheriff’s office employees, as five pre-trial detainees were beaten in late April of 2011.

One New Iberia resident, Latoya Cooper tells News 10,

“Some of the system is very corrupt; for thing like that to happen right under our noses.”

Cooper says the victims of the beatings have families who care about them, like the family of Victor White III.

White died while in custody, of Iberia deputies in March of 2014. In December of 2015, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced there was insufficient evidence to warrant a federal investigation into White’s death.

He is someone’s son. I feel like not enough is being done in the system to where we are taking care of business accordingly.”

New Iberia native, Marlon Lewis believes the problem derives from Sheriff’s employees having too much power in New Iberia. Since the city got rid of the police department in 2004, the Sheriff’s Office has been its only source of law enforcement.

Despite the current situation surrounding the Sheriff’s Office, Lewis says he still has faith in the criminal justice system. But he does have his doubts.

“It does bring a little fear in but, at the same time if we don’t have law-enforcement then the criminal element arises at a higher level.

If the sheriff and his lieutenant Colonel are convicted, they could spend up to ten years behind bars, and a $250,000 fine for each count.

The indictment states Sheriff Ackal instructed a narcotics agent to, “Take care” of a prisoner who made a lewd comment.

News 10 tried reaching out to the Sheriff’s Office, Public Information’s Officer Major Ryan Turner said they would not be making a statement at this time.

In a Press release issued, Sheriff Ackal would like to advise the public that he is remaining sheriff of Iberia Parish and has no plans to change that decision.

Sheriff Ackal states, “In spite of recent allegations made against me, I am confident I will be vindicated. I also speak on the behalf of my current employees when saying I am positive they are dedicated to protecting the citizens of Iberia Parish.  For my entire professional career, I have had faith in our judicial system.  I continue to believe in our system and that history will show I have always stood on the side of good.”

The Indictment reads that on the day in question, in response to an offensive comment by one of the detainees, Sheriff Ackal instructed Narcotics Agent Benjamin Lasalle to “take care” of the detainee. Understanding the Sheriff wanted him to assault the detainee, Agent Lasalle asked if there was a place in the jail without cameras. Warden Hayes told him the chapel would be an ideal location.

According to the indictment, Lasalle brought the detainee identified as C.O. to the chapel where he was hit several times with a baton. C.O. told Lasalle he was not the one who made the lewd comment. He blamed it on a detainee identified as S.S.

S.S. was taken to the chapel and beaten as well. Once Lasalle learned S.S was in jail for a sex offense, Lasalle held his baton between his own legs and forced it into the mouth of S.S. causing him to choke.

The indictment states that the sheriff, Lieutenant Colonel, the Warden Wesley Hayes, all conspired with one another to threaten and intimidate prisoners.

The narcotics unit was occasionally called to the jail to assist in shakedowns of the facility.

In a press release, Sheriff Ackal says that he will be remaining Sheriff of Iberia Parish and has no plans to change that decision.

“In spite of recent allegations made against me, I am confident I will be vindicated. I also speak on behalf of the current employees when saying I am positive they are dedicated to protecting the citizens of Iberia Parish.”

Following the Sheriff’s indictment, KLFY reached out to New Iberia Mayor, Hilda Curry.

New Iberia is the 13^th largest city in the state and under sole protection of the sheriff’s office. Mayor Curry says the contract will continue between the city and the sheriff’s office and that her main concern is for the safety of the citizens.