A second Clinton Correctional Facility employee has been arrested in connection with the escape of two convicted murderers nearly three weeks ago.
Police arrested Gene Palmer, a 25-year veteran prison guard at the facility, and charged him with promoting prison contraband, official misconduct and tampering with physical evidence. Palmer was arraigned late Wednesday and had bail set at $25,000 cash or $50,000 bond, Fox News reports.
Palmer admitted to police that he gave Richard Matt and David Sweat special privileges and smuggled supplies to them, but never imagined they would actually escape. In return, Matt provided Palmer with “elaborate paintings” and snitched on other inmates.
Palmer told police he gave the inmates access to an electrical box so they could cook in their cells. An unnamed official told The Albany Times Union that the inmates may have tricked Palmer by repeatedly tripping the breaker and convincing him that they could fix it with a few tools.
He also delivered a package of ground beef that the first arrested employee, Joyce Mitchell, had allegedly hidden tools in. Those tools were likely used to cut through walls and pipes in the inmates’ escape.
The inmates are still on the run, though on of the escapees’ DNA was recently discovered in a cabin about 25 miles west of the prison. (RELATED: Escaped Prisoner’s DNA Found In Cabin)
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