“Shaw-skank” prison worker Joyce Mitchell tearfully pleaded guilty Tuesday to aiding the escape of two convicted murderers during a quickie court proceeding that got her off the hook for any alleged jailhouse sex she had with the hardened criminals. Sweat was captured two days after that. She faces a sentencing of 2 1/3 to 7 years for promoting prison contraband.
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The woman believed to be Richard Matt and David Sweat’s main accomplice was arraigned Tuesday morning in Clinton County Court.
Prosecutors said Mitchell provided chisels, hacksaw blades, a punch and screwdriver bits to inmates Richard Matt and David Sweat, and allegedly planned to drive their getaway auto the night of June 6 but stood them up.
Appearing in Plattsburgh County Court in shackles and a black and white jail uniform, Mitchell wiped away tears as she signed legal documents before Judge Kevin Ryan.
Corrections officials said Tuesday that Mitchell, who was arrested June 12, resigned from her job on June 25 and remains eligible for a pension.
Today, Mitchell pleaded guilty to both charges against her: one felony count of promoting prison contraband and one misdemeanor charge of criminal facilitation. Wylie said she is expected to waive her right to a grand jury hearing. The prison break set off a three-week-long manhunt across the North Country.
She faced up to eight years behind bars if tried and convicted, authorities said.
Mitchell reportedly had relationships with the two men while they were incarcerated. But Mitchell didn’t show up, officials said. They fled through the woods of upstate New York, breaking into a cabin and collecting supplies.
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New York State Inspector General Catherine Leahy Scott said in a statement that Mitchell’s guilty plea made “clear her culpability in the systemic breakdown that led to the escape of two cold-blooded killers”.
