VIDALIA, La. – A candidate for Concordia Parish sheriff is accusing Sheriff Randy Maxwell of unfairly barring him from bailing people out of the parish jail.

Justin Conner, owner of C&W Bonding, said Tuesday that Maxwell would not let him bond people out of the Concordia Parish Jail because Conner is running against Maxwell for sheriff.

On Wednesday, Maxwell acknowledged that he would not allow Conner to bond people out of the jail because Conner is running against him.

But he added that as sheriff, he can legally choose which bail bondsmen do business with the Sheriff’s Office.

&uot;As sheriff, (bonding) is something I’m responsible for,&uot;&160;Maxwell said. &uot;I can’t have someone running against me bonding people out of jail.

&uot;He (Conner) has got no qualifications or platform to run on – that is why he is trying to use this against me.&uot;

Conner could be reached for comment Wednesday.

Neither officials with the Louisiana Department of Insurance or Attorney General’s Office would confirm whether Maxwell can legally bar a bail bondsman from bonding people out of the jail.

Maxwell also denied Conner’s charges that deputies intimidated people who, on Conner’s behalf, drove voters to absentee voting last week.

&uot;Nobody’s harassed anybody,&uot;&160;Maxwell said. &uot;That is absolutely false.&uot;