The St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office arrested former St. John Sheriff’s Office deputy Jeff Patterson on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, and booked him with two counts of taking contraband to/from penal institutions prohibited (felony) and two counts of malfeasance in office (felony).
Patterson,62, had been employed for six years and worked as a chaplain in the parish jail in LaPlace.
Patterson’s arrest comes after an internal investigation which began after Patterson was observed on surveillance video taking contraband into the parish jail. During the investigation, Patterson admitted that he knowingly violated the law and department policy. Patterson was terminated and later arrested.
Patterson was released after posting bond.
A second person was arrested on Monday, Nov. 18, in connection with the investigation. Chelsea Sanderson, 28, was arrested and booked with conspiracy to bring contraband in a penal institution. Sanderson is being held in the parish jail under a $10,000 bond.
Eli Moore, an inmate in the Sherman Walker Correctional Facility, also was arrested in connection to this investigation. Moore has been booked with conspiracy to bring contraband in a penal institution. He remains in custody in the parish jail.