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NY Prison Worker Sentenced For Helping Inmates Escape

She called her choice to help the duo break out "the worst mistake I have ever made."
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Senior Crime Reporter, HuffPost

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Joyce Mitchell cries during sentencing at Clinton County Court in Plattsburgh, New York.
POOL New / Reuters

A former prison guard who helped two murderers escape from a maximum-security prison in upstate New York was sentenced Monday morning to up to seven years in prison.

Supreme Court Judge Kevin K. Ryan said Joyce Mitchell must serve at least three and a half years of her sentence before she is eligible for parole. Mitchell was also ordered to pay fines in excess of $6,000.

Prior to sentencing, Mitchell, 51, apologized for what she called “the worst mistake I have ever made.”

“I never intended for any of this to happen,” Mitchell said. “I’m not a bad person. I clearly made a horrible mistake.”

Mitchell, of Dickinson Center, New York, pleaded guilty in July to promoting prison contraband and facilitating criminal activity. As part of a plea deal, the state agreed not to prosecute Mitchell on additional charges.

Authorities arrested Mitchell on June 12 for helping orchestrate the June 6 escape of Richard Matt, 48, and David Sweat, 34, from the Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora. After an intense three-week manhunt, Matt was shot and killed on June 26. Two days later, Sweat was shot and captured near the Canadian border.

Escaped New York Murderers
Escaped Prisoners(01 of17)
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This combination made from photos released by the New York State Police shows inmates David Sweat, left, and Richard Matt. Authorities on Saturday, June 6, 2015 said Sweat, 34, and Matt, 48, both convicted murderers, escaped from the Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora, N.Y. (New York State Police via AP) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Escaped Prisoners(02 of17)
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This photo provided by New York State Governor's office shows the area where two convicted murderers used power tools to cut through steel pipes at a maximum-security prison in Dannemora, NY, near the Canadian border and escaped through a manhole, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Saturday, June 6, 2015. He said Richard Matt, 48, and David Sweat, 34, "are two dangerous individuals." (Darren McGee/New York State Governor's Office, via AP) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Escaped Prisoners(03 of17)
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This photo provided by New York State Governor's office shows Gov. Andrew Cuomo on a catwalk looking into the cell that inmates escaped from at a maximum-security prison near the Canadian border in Dannemora, NY. Gov. Cuomo said Saturday, June 6, 2015, that Richard Matt, 48, and David Sweat, 34, "are two dangerous individuals." (Darren McGee/New York State Governor's Office, via AP) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Escaped Prisoners(04 of17)
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This photo provided by New York State Governor's office shows the note left by two convicted murderers who used power tools to cut through steel pipes at a maximum-security prison in Dannemora, NY, near the Canadian border and escaped through a manhole, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Saturday, June 6, 2015. He said Richard Matt, 48, and David Sweat, 34, "are two dangerous individuals." (Darren McGee/New York State Governor's Office, via AP) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Escaped Prisoners(05 of17)
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This photo provided by New York State Governor's office shows Gov. Andrew Cuomo looking at the area where two convicted murderers used power tools to cut through steel pipes at a maximum-security prison in Dannemora, NY, near the Canadian border and escaped through a manhole, New York. Cuomo said Saturday, June 6, 2015, that Richard Matt, 48, and David Sweat, 34, "are two dangerous individuals." (Darren McGee/New York State Governor's Office, via AP) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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A law enforcement agent looks through a sniper scope during a search for two escaped killers over a field in Boquet, N.Y., Tuesday, June 9, 2015. State and federal law officers are searching for David Sweat and Richard Matt, two killers who used power tools to break out of Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannnemora, close to the Canadian border. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Escaped Prisoners(07 of17)
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Heavily armed law enforcement agents patrol the edge of road during a search for two escaped killers near Boquet, N.Y., Tuesday, June 9, 2015. State and federal law officers are searching for David Sweat and Richard Matt, two killers who used power tools to break out of Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannnemora, close to the Canadian border. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Escaped Prisoners(08 of17)
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A heavily armed law enforcement officer looks over a field through binoculars during a search for two escaped killers near Boquet, N.Y., Tuesday, June 9, 2015. State and federal law officers are searching for David Sweat and Richard Matt, two killers who used power tools to break out of Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannnemora, close to the Canadian border. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Escaped Prisoners(09 of17)
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A heavily armed law enforcement officer patrols the edge of road during a search for two escaped killers in Boquet, N.Y., Tuesday, June 9, 2015. State and federal law officers are searching for David Sweat and Richard Matt, two killers who used power tools to break out of Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannnemora, close to the Canadian border. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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Law enforcement officials man a check point near the border of Dannemora, N.Y., Wednesday, June 10, 2015. Police were resuming house-to-house searches near the maximum-security prison in northern New York where David Sweat and Richard Matt , two killers escaped using power tools. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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Law enforcement officers walk the streets in Dannemora, N.Y., as they searched houses near the maximum-security prison in northern New York where two killers escaped using power tools,Wednesday, June 10, 2015. State Police said the fifth day of searching will entail going from house to house in Dannemora, where David Sweat and Richard Matt cut their way out of the Clinton Correctional Facility. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Escaped Prisoners(12 of17)
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Law enforcement officers walk the streets in Dannemora, N.Y., as they searched houses near the maximum-security prison in northern New York where two killers escaped using power tools,Wednesday, June 10, 2015. State Police said the fifth day of searching will entail going from house to house in Dannemora, where David Sweat and Richard Matt cut their way out of the Clinton Correctional Facility. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Escaped Prisoners(13 of17)
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Law enforcement officers walk the streets near the prison in Dannemora, N.Y., as they searched houses near the maximum-security prison in northern New York where two killers escaped using power tools,Wednesday, June 10, 2015. State Police said the fifth day of searching will entail going from house to house in Dannemora, where David Sweat and Richard Matt cut their way out of the Clinton Correctional Facility. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Escaped Prisoners(14 of17)
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Law enforcement officials check the back of trucks at a check point near the border of Dannemora, N.Y., Wednesday, June 10, 2015. Police were resuming house-to-house searches near the maximum-security prison in northern New York where David Sweat and Richard Matt , two killers escaped using power tools. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Escaped Prisoners(15 of17)
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Law enforcement officials check the trunk of a car at a check point near the border of Dannemora, N.Y., Wednesday, June 10, 2015. Police were resuming house-to-house searches near the maximum-security prison in northern New York where David Sweat and Richard Matt , two killers escaped using power tools. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
APTOPIX Escaped Prisoners(16 of17)
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Law enforcement officers question a woman, Wednesday, June 10, 2015, who lives near the prison in Dannemora, N.Y., as they searched houses near the maximum-security prison in northern New York where two killers escaped using power tools. State Police said the fifth day of searching will entail going from house to house in Dannemora, where David Sweat and Richard Matt cut their way out of the Clinton Correctional Facility. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
APTOPIX Escaped Prisoners(17 of17)
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Law enforcement officers walk the streets in Dannemora, N.Y., as they searched houses near the maximum-security prison in northern New York where two killers escaped using power tools,Wednesday, June 10, 2015. State Police said the fifth day of searching will entail going from house to house in Dannemora, where David Sweat and Richard Matt cut their way out of the Clinton Correctional Facility. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Matt was serving a 25 years-to-life sentence without the possibility of parole for the murder and dismemberment of a Buffalo man in 1997. Sweat is serving a sentence of life without parole for the 2002 killing of a Broome County sheriff's deputy.

Mitchell, who worked in the prison tailor shop, admitted providing Matt and Sweet with tools, including a chisel and hacksaw blades, which the men used to tunnel through prison walls. Authorities said she had also agreed to be the escapees' getaway driver, but backed out at the last minute.

During Monday's hearing, Mitchell said she only helped the inmates because she feared they would hurt her family.

"I just don't find that explanation credible," Judge Ryan told her as he imposed the sentence.

The manhunt for the suspects cost the state of New York an estimated $23 million dollars in overtime costs. Roughly $120,000 was also spent repairing the prison walls that Matt and Sweat damaged during their escape. A restitution hearing regarding those expenses will be held at a later date, Judge Ryan said.

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