US prison worker pleads guilty over assisting escape

  • 29/07/2015
Joyce Mitchell faces a sentence of up to seven years in prison under terms of a plea deal with prosecutors (Reuters)
Joyce Mitchell faces a sentence of up to seven years in prison under terms of a plea deal with prosecutors (Reuters)

A prison worker who was "in over her head" with two inmates convicted of murder has tearfully pleaded guilty to helping them escape.

The plea comes as new details emerged of her relationship with the men that included performing a sex act and sending naked photos.

Joyce Mitchell, an instructor in the tailor shop at the Clinton Correctional Facility in upstate New York, wore shackles and prison stripes as she entered the pleas in a barely audible voice.

Afterward, her lawyer, Stephen Johnston, said she realises she made a "horrible mistake" by getting involved with Richard Matt and David Sweat, who staged an elaborate escape from the maximum-security prison on June 6.

"She got in over her head into something that she never should have started. But she did, and she's paying the price now," Johnston told reporters outside court.

"I think that to a certain extent, Matt got her to feeling good about herself, better than she had for a period of time, and she was swept off her feet a bit ... And then when she realised who she was dealing with, everything changed."

Matt was shot and killed by searchers June 26, about 48km west of the prison. Sweat was captured near the Canadian border two days later and sent to another prison.

Mitchell, 51, faces a sentence of up to seven years in prison under terms of a plea deal with prosecutors.

In documents first obtained by NBC News, Mitchell told investigators she believed she helped the two inmates escape because she "was caught up in the fantasy".

In April, Mitchell said she was alone with Matt in the tailor shop when he grabbed her and kissed her.

"It startled me. He kissed me with an open mouth kiss. I didn't say anything because I was scared for my husband, who also works for the facility," Mitchell said.

In May, Matt asked her to perform oral sex and she so did out of fear, Mitchell said. She also said she took naked photos of her breasts and genitals and gave them to Matt to give to Sweat.

District Attorney Andrew Wylie said separate cases against Sweat and a Gene Palmer, a guard who investigators accuse of unwittingly helping the two inmates, are expected to go before a grand jury next month.

Prosecutors say Mitchell provided hacksaw blades, chisels, a punch tool and a screwdriver to Matt on May 1. Authorities say she became close with the pair and agreed to be their getaway driver. But she backed out at the last moment, forcing the two to flee on foot after they emerged from a manhole near the prison.

Investigators also said Mitchell had discussed killing her husband, Lyle Mitchell, as part of the plot.

AFP