A second corrections officer from a New York prison has been arrested and charged for having a part in the jailbreak of two inmates. Gene Palmer has been charged with three felonies and a misdemeanor. The convicted killers David Sweat and Richard Matt have been on the run for 20 days. More details after the jump.
Gene Palmer 57 year-old corrections officer at the Upstate NY prison where two inmates escaped has been charged with one count of promoting dangerous prison contraband, two counts of destroying evidence and one count of official misconduct. Palmer has pled not guilty and posted $25,000 bails this morning.
According to his lawyer Palmer, “did pass … hamburger meat” to the men which is a violation of prison protocol but did not know that it contained tools, like the hacksaw and blades that allowed the men to carryout their escape plan. Palmer’s lawyer added that he, “shouldn’t have done it” and has “apologized for it.”
The long-time prison guard has also admitted to inappropriately. In the latest court documents Plamer gave Matt art supplies to make paintings. Palmer said, “Matt provided me with elaborate paintings and information on the illegal acts that inmates were committing within the facility,” After the news of the jailbreak Palmer burned the paintings.
Palmer also allowed Sweat to access illegal areas of the prison that were key parts of their escape plan. He also provided the two men with screwdrivers and pliers on several occasions over the past eight months.
The guard explained, “I did not realize at the time, that the assistance provided to Matt or Sweat made their escape easier.”
Palmer has been cooperative with police in their ongoing search for the escapees. Palmer’s lawyer stated that he, “understands this is a public emergency, and any information that he has he will give to authorities to help capture Mr. Sweat and Mr. Matt.”
Palmer is the second prison employee to be arrested and charged in connection with the escape of these two inmates. Joyce Mitchell, the prison seamstress and reported lover of Sweat is in custody and has admitted to placing the tools in the frozen hamburger meat.
Source CNN
