PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. — A New York prison guard charged in connection with the maximum-security prison escape of two killers admitted to providing them with tools, paint, frozen hamburger meat and even access to a catwalk electrical box – but claims he never knew they planned to bust out.
Gene Palmer, 57, was to be arraigned Thursday on charges of promoting prison contraband, tampering with physical evidence and official misconduct. He was released from the Clinton County Jail around 12:30 a.m. on $25,000 bail, several hours after his arrest Wednesday night.
Palmer is the second Clinton Correctional Facility employee to be charged since Richard Matt and David Sweat broke out of the northern New York prison June 6. Prison tailor shop employee Joyce Mitchell has pleaded not guilty to charges she helped them escape and remains in custody.
But in contrast to the 51-year-old Mitchell, Palmer said he was an unwitting helper.
“I did not realize at the time that the assistance provided to Matt or Sweat made their escape easier,” Palmer told authorities in a signed statement.