BATON ROUGE — A Baton Rouge man accused of helping an escaped inmate from New Orleans is out on bond after Commissioner Kinasiyukumki Kimble set his bond at $15,000.
Vi Nguyen is charged with accessory after the fact and aggravated escape for his alleged involvement in helping a jail escapee.
Baton Rouge Police arrested Lenton Vanburen Jr. on May 26, one of the remaining escapees from the Orleans Parish Jail, where 10 inmates escaped in total.
After receiving an anonymous tip from a concerned citizen at Hammond Aire Plaza on Airline Highway, Baton Rouge Police apprehended Van Buren, who police say was sitting on a bench near a department store in the shopping center.
Vanburen was the sixth captured escapee from the Orleans Parish Jail break that occurred on May 16. He was in jail for charges of possession of a firearm by a felon, illegal carrying of a weapon, and a parole violation.
While searching Vanburen, investigators found hotel key cards for Super 6 Inn and Suites labeled for Room 209. Louisiana State Police troopers went to the Super 6 and talked to hotel staff, who said that the room was reserved by Nguyen. The staff had a copy of Nguyen’s driver’s license on file.
According to the Super 6 staff, Nguyen allegedly reserved the room on May 24 at 9:32 p.m. with cash. Video surveillance shows Nguyen reserving the room at that time, officials report.
In addition, video shows him leaving the night window, where he reserved the room, and walking to a Toyota Rav4 before driving to the rear of the building. According to the arrest warrant, more video footage shows Nguyen walking upstairs toward Room 209 with another person wearing clothing similar to what Vanburen was wearing at the time of his arrest in Baton Rouge.
Around 1 p.m. on May 26, Nguyen paid cash for an additional night for Room 209.
Louisiana State Police troopers arrested Nguyen on May 27. Commissioner Kina Kimble set his bond at $15,000 and he must wear a court-approved monitor.
His next court appearance is scheduled for August 18 at 10 a.m.
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