Disclaimer: All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — 32-year-old Angela Filardo stood before Judge Nandi Campbell and pled not guilty to a felony count of accessory to an escape.
The former New Orleans teacher is accused of helping 18-year-old Lynell Reynolds after he escaped from an unsecured youth group home in Lake Charles last year.
A 13-year-old Reynolds was found guilty of attempted second-degree murder after he shot Darelle Scott in the back during an armed robbery, paralyzing him.
“He is going to be in it for life. His life will be forever changed,” said Scott’s grandmother, Dorthy White.
White is not surprised by Filardo’s plea.
“There has not been any accountability for what Angela Filardo has done to my grandson. Darelle is in a lot of pain. He suffers from post-dramatic stress. He is not here today because of those same reasons,” said White.
Though Reynolds has been sentenced to juvenile life, White says Reynolds’ former teacher should also serve time.
“She helped a felon. As Jason Williams said, aiding and abetting will be prosecuted by the full extent of the law, and that’s what I am looking for. There are all types of evidence that shows what she did and how she helped him escape” said White.
Justin Brown from Empower You NOLA stood beside White, saying her family has waited long enough for justice calling on those in charge like District Attorney Jason Williams to ensure it happens.
“We are going to hold him accountable just like we are going to hold everyone accountable. So, we are going to go through this process, see what he does, and we are going to make public what we believe if we got a fair shot at this, or we didn’t. We are just asking for justice for this case for her grandson,” said Brown.
As she waits for the trial to begin, she reiterates that Filardo should never be able to teach again.
“Eight, ten hours a day, and we expect that you are a role model. She has not shown that. She should never be able to ever teach in the system again. She should never be able to be around children again” said White.
Filardo’s trial is set to begin July 22.
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