St. John jailer fired for insurance scam

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, April 11, 2001

A St. John corrections officer was terminated Friday after he was arrested for his involvement in an insurance scam that included approximately two dozen people. Earnest Martin, 61, who had worked for the sheriff’s office since 1997 was booked by Baton Rouge police with felony theft, principle to filing false public records and malfeasance in office last week. He was later released on $10,000 bond. According to Chief Harold Klibert of the St. John Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff Wayne L. Jones instructed him to fire Martin after he learned of the arrest. Along with more than 20 other people arrested for the scam, Martin claimed that his vehicle was damaged by bad roads. After filing a false insurance claim in 1999, Martin received $2,102 for damage he said was done to his automobile. Baton Rouge authorities had been conducting an insurance fraud investigation for some time, said Klibert. When the St. John Sheriff’s Office learned of Martin’s involvement, it was requested he turn himself in. Because the charges are felony charges, the sheriff’s office was forced to release Martin, said Klibert. Martin, who has prior military experience, was one of the program officers for the sheriff’s office. He was involved in the boot camp program at the Sherman R. Walker Correctional Center in LaPlace.