Clinton County Court Judge Kevin Ryan told Mitchell she “did bad things” when she helped the inmates and noted how the resulting search disrupted life in a wide swath of the region for three weeks. Sweat, 35, was captured two days later about 2 miles (3 km) from the Canadian border.
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Matt was shot and killed June 26 and Sweat was taken into custody June 28 after a massive manhunt spanning the state.
Ryan scolded Mitchell, saying her story was not credible.
“If I could take it all back I would”, she said. Sweat has been charged with escaping from the Clinton Correctional Facility. Authorities said she had also agreed to be the escapees’ getaway driver, but backed out at the last minute.
Joyce Mitchell, the prison seamstress believed to be romantically interested in at least one of the prisoners, smuggled tools in hamburger meat that the prisoners used in an incredible “Shawshank Redemption” style escape. She had a intimate relationship with Matt and sneaked hacksaw blades and other tools to the pair to help their escape through thick walls and metal pipes. “And I was supposed to pretend that I was making a phone call while they were coming out”, she said.
Officials said Matt and Sweat had originally planned to come out of a manhole after escaping the prison and meet Mitchell, who would drive them away. “So when Mr. Matt brought me the pills, they were in my drawer at work”.
“I never intended for any of this to happen”, Mitchell said.
The state is seeking restitution from Mitchell for part of the high costs associated with the escape. Mitchell was also fined a total of $6,000 plus court fees.
Mitchell, 51, pleaded guilty in July in a deal that allowed her to sidestep charges for an alleged plot to kill her husband and for any sexual contact with Sweat and Matt. A hearing is set in November to consider what Mitchell may have to pay.
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Mitchell entered the courtroom in tears and continued to cry throughout most of the 35-minute sentencing, and even removed her glasses to wipe her eyes.
