Page 58 - KPA 29 JULY 2015

New York Prison Worker
Pleads Guilty to Helping
Inmates Escape

Joyce Mitchell admitted
providing tools for escape
and agreeing to be the
getaway driver

A woman charged with helping two murderers es-

cape from an upstate New York prison last month
pleaded guilty on Tuesday to two charges in the case.
Joyce Mitchell, 51, was charged with promoting
prison contraband, a felony, and criminal facilitation,
a misdemeanor. Before her plea, Mitchell’s handcuffs
were removed so she could sign a form to waive a
grand jury hearing on her charges. After signing the
waiver, she wiped what appeared to be tears from
her eyes.
Sentencing is not expected to take place Tuesday.
Authorities said Mitchell, a tailor at the Clinton Cor-
rectional Facility, provided Richard Matt and David
Sweat with tools they used to cut through cell walls
for their escape from the prison in Dannemora,
New York.
Mitchell admitted she smuggled hacksaw
blades by hiding them in frozen ham-
burger meat, a law enforcement official
confirmed. The escape was discovered
on June 6. A massive manhunt ended in
late June after law enforcement officers
fatally shot Matt and recaptured Sweat.
She faced up to eight years behind bars if
tried and convicted, authorities said.
Officials said Matt and Sweat had
originally planned to come out of
a manhole and meet Mitchell,
who would drive them away.
But Mitchell didn’t show up,
officials said.
Despite their botched get-
away plan, Sweat and Matt
managed to elude authori-
ties for about three weeks.
They fled through the
woods of upstate New
York, breaking into a
cabin and collecting sup-
plies.

12 INTERNATIONAL Wednesday, July 29 2015 - ARUBA TRAVELLER