Civilian prison worker charged

New York state officials say a civilian prison worker named Joyce Mitchell provided contraband to Richard Matt and David Sweat weeks before their escape from the Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora, New York.

A criminal complaint says Mitchell, 51, brought them hacksaw blades, a screwdriver bit and chisels. A person close to the investigation says Mitchell had agreed to be the getaway driver but never showed up.

Mitchell, a tailor shop instructor at the prison, was arraigned Friday on a felony charge of promoting prison contraband and a misdemeanor count of criminal facilitation. Mitchell was ordered held in jail on $100,000 cash bail or $200,000 bond. She was moved to a jail in another county Saturday at the request of the Clinton County sheriff and is due back in court Monday morning.

Associated Press