A New York state corrections officer charged in connection with the escape of two murderers from a maximum-security prison has bailed himself out of an upstate jail.



Officials at Clinton County Jail say 57-year-old Gene Palmer was released at around 12:30 a.m. Thursday after using a credit card to pay his $25,000 bail.

Court documents accuse the corrections officer of providing inmates Richard Matt and David Sweat with a screwdriver and needle-nose pliers. Authorities say Palmer delivered the tools inside frozen meat, but his lawyer says Palmer didn't know tools were hidden inside the meat.



The documents released by prosecutors also say that Palmer burned and buried paintings he received from the pair after they escaped from Clinton Correctional Facility on June 6.



Authorities charged Palmer on Wednesday night with promoting prison contraband, tampering with physical evidence and official misconduct.



Palmer's lawyer says he did not know Sweat and Matt were planning to escape and that he has been fully cooperating with authorities.



Palmer was put on administrative leave last week.