A guard who unwittingly helped two killers escape from a northern New York prison by smuggling in pliers, a screwdriver and a hacksaw blade hidden in hamburger meat was sentenced Monday to six months in jail.

Gene Palmer is the third person to be sentenced in the escape of Richard Matt and David Sweat, who cut their way out of the maximum-security Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora on June 6. A massive three-week manhunt ended with Matt killed and Sweat captured.

Palmer, 57, pleaded guilty to a felony count of promoting prison contraband for bringing in needle-nose pliers and a screwdriver, a misdemeanor contraband count for the hamburger meat and a misdemeanor official misconduct count.

A judge sentenced him to six months in jail and about $5,000 in fines.

Palmer, standing stone-faced, declined comment in court. But his lawyer told the judge that Palmer was remorseful and "had no idea that he was knowingly aiding" the escape.