3 more arrested in alleged sex scandal at juvenile center

Another female inmate at the Terrebonne Parish Juvenile Detention Center last week accused correctional officer Angelo Vickers of engaging in sexual contact.

Also last week, three more female former inmates at the juvenile detention center accused two other correctional officers of sexual contact.

Vickers, 47, 390 Monarch Drive in Houma, had been arrested on April 23 after a 15-year-old inmate told Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s detectives that he had sex with her in exchange for favors, like allowing her free phone calls and giving her snacks. Vickers denied the accusation.

The following day, a 16-year-old inmate told detectives Vickers had had sex with her in exchange for favors.

Vickers was charged with two counts of molestation of a juvenile and malfeasance in office on those two allegations and is being held in the Terrebonne Parish Jail on a $100,000 bond.

The third accuser is a 15-year-old former inmate of the juvenile detention center. The sheriff’s office stated in a news release that the information the juvenile provided is consistent with facts gathered earlier.

Vickers received a $200,000 bond for the third count of molestation of a juvenile and malfeasance in office.

The three other former inmates of the juvenile detention center – all 16 years old – said they had sex with employees in exchange for privileges.

Detectives arrested correctional officers Darwin Brown, 23, 159 Elmira Court in Thibodaux, and Floyd Howard, 40, 1317 Division Ave. in Houma. Howard was listed as a sergeant.

Brown was charged with two counts of malfeasance in office, molestation of a juvenile and three counts of indecent behavior with a juvenile. He is in jail on a $200,000 bond.

Howard was charged with carnal knowledge of a juvenile, indecent behavior with a juvenile and malfeasance in office. He is also in jail on a $200,000 bond.

In addition, detectives arrested a female correctional officer at the facility for interfering in the investigation, according to the release.

Tiffany Blakemore, 36, 3600 Friendswood Drive in Houma, allegedly threatened one of the female juveniles who made the molestation accusation not to cooperate with detectives.

Blakemore is in jail on a $50,000 bond.

All four employees will be arraigned on May 19.

The juvenile detention center is operated by Terrebonne Parish government not the sheriff’s office, which runs the adult jail.

Neither Terrebonne Parish President Michel Claudet nor Juvenile Detention Center Director Jason Hutchinson could comment on the arrests because they said juveniles are involved and the criminal investigation is ongoing.

Sheriff Vernon Bourgeois referred all questions about the arrests to the juvenile detention center director.