Mitchell pleads guilty to felony in prison escape
Joyce Mitchell was back in court today. She’s the former civilian employee at Clinton-Dannemora prison who was accused of helping Richard Matt...
Jul 28, 2015 — Joyce Mitchell was back in court today. She’s the former civilian employee at Clinton-Dannemora prison who was accused of helping Richard Matt and David Sweat escape. Mitchell originally pleaded not guilty.
Update: 4:25 pm: Joyce Mitchell admitted to helping two convicted murderers escape from Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora, New York. Mitchell was working as a prison tailor shop instructor when she allegedly smuggled in small tools and offered to be the getaway driver for Richard Matt and David Sweat. She originally pleaded not guilty.
Mitchell is pleading guilty to a felony charge of promoting prison contraband and misdemeanor criminal facilitation.
"There was overwhelming evidence that she did what she admitted to today in court," said Stephen Johnston, Mitchell’s defense attorney. He says she “got in over her head” and “made a horrible mistake.”
Mitchell admits to helping the men escape. In exchange, she will not be charged with separate counts for each time she allegedly brought hacksaw blades and other items into the prison.
The judge says if convicted, Mitchell could serve up to seven years behind bars and pay 6,000 dollars in fines.
Previously: Joyce Mitchell’s defense attorney and the prosecutor appear to be negotiating a deal.
Investigators said Joyce Mitchell smuggled in small tools and offered to be the getaway driver for convicted murderers Richard Matt and David Sweat. They escaped from the prison by crawling through a steam pipe and emerging through a manhole cover on June 6.
Mitchell allegedly got cold feet at the last minute and backed out—a decision that forced the escaped inmates to hide in the woods for three weeks. Matt was eventually killed and Sweat was captured near the Canadian border.
Mitchell’s council and the local prosecutor are now negotiating in advance of a grand jury hearing. Mitchell’s lawyer told the Associated Press he is seeking a plea deal. The District Attorney said he expects Mitchell to skip the grand jury process.
So far, both sides have declined to say what that deal looks like or whether Mitchell might get a more lenient prison sentence. She faces up to eight years behind bars for felony “promoting prison contraband” and criminal facilitation.
Another employee at Clinton-Dannemora, prison guard Gene Palmer, was also arrested and is awaiting trial.
Meanwhile, 12 administrators and officers at the prison have been placed on administrative leave. That includes the top official at the facility—Superintendent Steve Racette. He is expected to retire by the end of this week.
