A female prison worker accused of helping two murderers escape from a maximum-security prison in New York has entered a not guilty plea.
Joyce Mitchell, a prison tailor shop instructor, was arraigned on charges of "promoting prison contraband" and "criminal facilitation" during her first court appearance in Plattsburgh.
The 51-year-old is accused of befriending inmates Richard Matt, 48, and David Sweat, 34, at the Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora.
If convicted, Mitchell could face a maximum of eight years in prison. She has been suspended without pay from her job.
The arrest comes as a manhunt continues for Matt and Sweat who used power tools to cut their way out of their cells a week ago.
Authorities said earlier that they believed Mitchell had agreed to be the pair's getaway driver, but failed to show up when they escaped.
The Clinton Country district attorney said that Mitchell "provided some form of equipment or tools" that allowed the two murderers to escape.
"There is information as far as contraband that she did provide to both Matt and Sweat," Andrew Wylie said.
A prison worker at the Clinton Correctional Facility, who did not want to be named, told Sky News of her shock that a fellow worker may have helped the pair escape.
"We get training because the inmates play you. That's why we call them cons because they like to con you. If Joyce Mitchell is involved we'd all be really upset about it. It makes us all look bad."
She believed preparations for the jailbreak must have been going on for some time and that it would have been easy for the pair to disguise their escape because of ongoing building work.
"I think they did it during the day," she said. "There's a lot of noise during the day. They are putting shower units all over the jail - everything is so loud."
Search
Authorities are continuing to search the Cadyville area after bloodhounds picked up a strong scent and police found evidence that the Matt and Sweat bedded down near two roads in the town.
Residents received automated phone calls from Homeland Security on Thursday night warning them to lock their doors and turn on their outside lights, the Press-Republican newspaper reported.
Schools in the area were also closed as New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said investigators had received tips that the fugitives were in the area.
Sheriff David Favro said officers were conducting grid searches through a cordoned-off area. He said there have been no reports of stolen vehicles or break-ins.
Mugshots of the two men have been put on more than 50 digital billboards across New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania.
A $100,000 reward for information leading to their recapture has also been posted.
Matt was serving 25 years to life for the 1997 kidnap, torture and dismemberment of his former boss William Rickerson, 76.
Sweat was serving a life sentence for the 2002 killing of sheriff's deputy Kevin Tarsia, who was shot 15 times and run over after discovering him and two accomplices transferring stolen guns between vehicles.
