By C1 Staff
PLATTSBURGH — The officer who unwittingly aided two convicted killers in their June 6 escape from the Clinton Correctional Facility has refused a plea deal.
The Press Republican reports that attempts to negotiate a plea deal with Gene Palmer’s attorney failed.
Palmer is charged with official misconduct for accepting paintings by Richard Matt, two counts of felony tampering with evidence for allegedly trying to destroy the artwork after the escape, and felony promoting prison contraband in connection with giving the inmates a pair of pliers, a screwdriver, two tubes of paint and paint brushes.
Palmer was a 27-year veteran at the prison and for the past eight years worked the Honor Block where Richard Matt and David Sweat were housed.
He is not charged in connection with the escape, but he did admit to police that he delivered a package of hamburger to Matt at the request of prison seamstress Joyce Mitchell, who pleaded guilty to aiding the inmates in their escape yesterday.
Palmer passed a lie-detector test indicating that he did not know there were hacksaw blades inside the frozen meat.
Sweat, who was recaptured during the weeks-long manhunt, also confirmed that Palmer was ignorant of that fact.
Palmer’s case is expected to go before a Clinton County grand jury in early August.