A St. Tammany Parish jury has now been chosen for the upcoming trial of Antoine Massey, the escaped New Orleans inmate accused of rape and several related offenses.
Massey, 32, is charged in St. Tammany with rape, kidnapping, strangulation in a domestic violence case, and violating a protective order. The charges stem from an incident reported to authorities in November 2024. He has entered a plea of not guilty.
Before the May 16 jailbreak, Massey was already facing a separate set of charges in Orleans Parish, including domestic battery and stealing a vehicle.
Investigators say the woman Massey is accused of assaulting later provided help while he was on the run. She is now facing counts of obstruction of justice and being a principal to aggravated escape. According to deputies, she kept in contact with Massey, knew he intended to escape, and misled officers throughout the six-week search.
Law enforcement records show Massey has a long history of breaking out of custody. His first escape dates back to 2007, when he fled a juvenile facility in New Orleans. Police say he also escaped from the Morehouse Parish Detention Center in 2019 and has twice removed electronic monitoring devices.
During the months-long manhunt earlier this year, a video circulated online of a man who appeared to be Massey claiming he had been “let out” of jail and asking the public for help. Investigators later confirmed the video was authentic.
Jury selection on Monday lasted nearly the entire day, as prosecutors and defense attorneys questioned potential jurors about their exposure to news reports on the jailbreak, Massey’s prior escapes, and the allegations in both St. Tammany and Orleans parishes. Ultimately, twelve jurors and two alternates were sworn in.
Massey’s attorney, Bobby Hjortsberg, says his client intends to contest every charge.
“We’ve said from day one that he’s not guilty, and we feel good about where this case is headed,” Hjortsberg said. “With the evidence we’ve reviewed, I’m confident we can win.”
Video Credit: www.wdsu.com