Tri-Parish Times | May 28, 2009
By Mike Bbossette

Three more arrests have been conducted in the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff's Office's ongoing investigation into allegations of molestations at the Juvenile Detention Center by correctional officers, bringing the number of arrests made to seven.

Last week, detectives arrested correctional officers John Gathen, 27, 204 Bisland St., and Darrin Carter, 38, 820 Cottage Mill Lane, both in Houma, for molestation of a juvenile and malfeasance in office.

Gathen is accused of having sexual intercourse with a 15-year-old juvenile female in exchange for extra snacks, according to the female. He was not employed by the Juvenile Detention Center at the time of his arrest.

Carter is accused of having sexual intercourse with a 14-year-old female inmate. She said she had sex with Carter in exchange for food privileges.

Detectives also arrested correctional officer Chadwick Griffin, 35, 156 Duplantis Street in Thibodaux, for malfeasance in office. Chadwick allegedly allowed two females to engage in sexual contact while he observed, later awarding them food privileges.

In late April, detectives arrested four Juvenile Detention Facility correctional officers.

Angelo Vickers, 47, of Houma, was arrested on three counts of molestation of a juvenile and malfeasance in office. Vickers is accused of having sexual contact with a 16-year-old and two 15-year-old inmates.

Following interviews with three 16-year-old female former inmates who said they had performed sexual acts in exchange for favors, detectives arrested Floyd Howard, 40, of Houma, and Darwin Brown, 23, of Thibodaux.

One female correctional officer, Tiffany Blakemore, 36, of Houma, was arrested for obstruction of justice after allegedly warning one of the inmates not to cooperate with detectives.