Prosecutors Weighing New Charges Against Iberia Sheriff

LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) — Federal prosecutors are weighing additional charges against a south Louisiana sheriff and one of his top lieutenants in a case linked to alleged beatings of jail inmates.

The Advocate reports that prosecutors are asking a judge to postpone a June 6 trial date for Iberia Parish Sheriff Louis Ackal and his lieutenant, Gerald Savoy.

A court filing Friday by prosecutors doesn't elaborate on the nature of the additional charges that they intend to pursue.

Ackal pleaded not guilty to federal charges that he ordered inmates to be beaten in retaliation for a lewd comment and complaints about jail conditions. Savoy also pleaded not guilty to related charges.

Ackal allegedly directed officers to assault inmates in the parish jail's chapel, where no surveillance cameras would record the April 2011 beatings.

Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.