The state Assembly representative for the region that includes the Clinton Correctional Facility is slamming the plea deal that the Clinton County District Attorney reached with Joyce Mitchell, who pleaded guilty this week to helping inmates Richard Matt and David Sweat escape from the maximum security prison last month. Republican Janet Duprey of the 115th district tells WAMC’s North Country Bureau Chief Pat Bradley justice was not served.
Unreachable for comment Thursday morning, District Attorney Andrew Wylie provided a statement to the Plattsburgh Press Republican in response to Assemblywoman Duprey’s criticism. He says: “I have rarely, if ever, seen the type of political demagoguery as I have from today's press release.” He added, “She, based upon her reading of blogs and letters to the editor, has already determined that Joyce Mitchell should be prosecuted for unnamed crimes which she fails to cite.” Wylie noted that the plea deal saves taxpayers the cost of further court proceedings. Mitchell faces up to seven years in prison.
