By Brendan Lyons and Keshia Clukey
Times Union
TOWN OF PLATTSBURGH — Gene E. Palmer, the correction officer accused of giving tools and other contraband to two men who escaped from Clinton Correctional Facility in return for paintings and the intelligence they provided on fellow inmates, is expected to appear in town court on Monday.
The 57-year-old’s return to court comes a day after one of the two escapees, David Sweat, 35, is being treated at Albany Medical Center for gunshots he suffered when State Police apprehended him in Constable, less than two miles from the Canadian border on Sunday. Sweat was listed in critical condition Sunday night but there was not an yet a condition update available Monday morning.
The other escapee, Richard Matt, 49, was shot and killed Friday near Titus Mountain.
Palmer is expected to appear in court at 4 p.m.
Palmer told investigators that, after an intensive investigation into the June 6 escape began, he burned some of the paintings and buried others to try to conceal his illicit dealings with the escaped inmates. The paintings were given to him by one of the escapees, Richard W. Matt, whose work included portraits of well-known people
Palmer, 57, who has worked as a correction officer for about 28 years was arrested Wednesday. He posted $25,000 bail and was released from the Clinton County jail early Thursday. He’s charged with felony counts of promoting prison contraband and evidence tampering. He is also accused of giving the two convicted killers frozen hamburger meat that had tools hidden inside it by another prison employee, Joyce E. Mitchell, who developed personal relationships with the escapees and allegedly agreed to help them. Palmer told investigators he didn’t know the meat contained the tools.
“Matt provided me with elaborate paintings and information on the illegal acts that inmates were committing within the facility,” he said in a sworn statement attributed to him by State Police.
“In turn I provided him with the benefits such as paint, paint brushes, movement of inmates, hamburger meat, altering of electrical boxes in the catwalk areas. I did not realize at the time that the assistance provided to Matt and Sweat made their escape easier,” the statement continued.
Palmer said he gave the inmates needle-nose pliers and a screwdriver so they could alter an electrical circuit box that provided power to their cells.
Mitchell, 51, was the first person to face arrest in the investigation of the escape. She is accused of providing hacksaw blades, chisels, a metal punch, lighted eyeglasses and a screwdriver drill bit to the prisoners.
Palmer was to appear in court Thursday afternoon but that was adjourned to Monday. He hiredWilliam Dreyer, a criminal defense lawyer from Albany.
Clinton County Sheriff David Favro said Sweat will likely be taken to a state facility and once back in custody felony escape charges will filed. Sweat is already serving a life sentence.
“Part of me hopes he does (talk),” he said. “He’s not compelled to and it’s not like they can give him an easier sentence.”
Favro said Sweat in the past has talked about his crimes with law enforcement, so he suspects he may about this as well.