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As part of a plea deal a former prison worker who helped two murderers escape from a maximum-security lockup was sentenced Monday to up to seven years behind bars.  Joyce Mitchell apologized profusely as she was sentenced, saying she acted in part out of fear.

Mitchell may also have to contribute to the $120,000 in restitution the state is seeking for damages to Clinton Correctional Facility from the June 6 escape.  Mitchell entered the courtroom in tears and cried throughout most of the 35-minute sentencing, in which she apologized to the community, her former co-workers and law enforcement officers for the weeks of disruption the search for the killers caused.

51 year old Joyce Mitchell had pleaded guilty to charges related to providing hacksaw blades and other tools to inmates Richard Matt and David Sweat.  Mitchell admitted to becoming close with the pair while she worked as an instructor in the prison tailor shop.

According to investigators she agreed to be their getaway driver before backing out after suffering a panic attack. Mitchell also said she didn’t tell anyone about the inmates’ plan to escape because Matt had threatened to harm her husband, Lyle, who also worked in the prison.

However the judge rejected her claim that she was protecting her family by not divulging the escape plot to authorities by saying “I just don’t find that explanation credible.” Lyle Mitchell gave his wife a thumbs-up as she entered and exited the court and Joyce mouthed “I love you” to him as guards led her away.

 

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