Prison worker who helped killer inmates escape jailed till Monday

A woman employees of the maximum security prison in the northern part of New York State has been accused of providing tools to help two "killer" inmates escape from the facility.

Fifty-one-year-old Joyce E. Mitchell of Dickinson Center, New York, was arrested on Friday and charged with promoting prison contraband in the first degree, a felony, and criminal facilitation in the fourth degree, a misdemeanor.

The New York Times has reported that last weekend, Mitchell befriended Richard W. Matt and David Sweat, and provided them with hacksaw blades, chisels, a punch and a screwdriver bit to facilitate their daring escape.

Mitchell was produced before the Clinton County courtroom in Plattsburgh, New York, east of Dannemora, late Friday night, but pleaded not guilty to the charge.

She will be held in jail until her next court appearance, which is set for Monday.

Meanwhile, state corrections officers in Dannemora are searching for the escapees.

Matt and Sweat escaped from the Dannemora State Prison a week ago.