Controversy seems to follow Burl Cain around like misfortune followed Joe Btfsplk, that sorrowful, hapless character from the old Li’l Abner comic strip.
Joe Btfsplk
When Cain retired as warden of the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola, he did so under a cloud. His retirement came a month after an INVESTIGATIVE REPORT by the Baton Rouge/New Orleans Advocate that examined real estate deals, favorable treatment of certain prisoners, nepotism and questionable business relationships.
A STATE AUDIT cited a laundry list of irregularities, including:
- Failure of prison employees to take leave while working on Cain’s personal residence;
- Lodging and meals provided to members of Cain’s family;
- Prison labor refurbished iron gates from Cain’s personal residence;
- Public funds were used to purchase appliances and household furnishes for Cain’s residence;
- Angola prison rodeo revenue not deposited in state treasury or included in Department of Corrections budget;
- Rodeo concession sales revenues not deposited;
- Personal purchases and cash withdrawals made from Angola Employee Recreation Fund.
All the foregoing would be ancient history, of course, since the audit was issued in January 2017, nearly a decade ago…