During the well publicized prison escape in June of last year, by Richard Matt and David Sweat, a number of phones were tapped to help track down the convicts. New York Criminal Procedure Law section 700.50(3) statute states those whose phones are tapped must be notified no later than 90 days after the warrants are terminated. A number of residents received a letter dated Dec. 18, 2015 informing them that their conversations had been intercepted.
Letter informing some residents that their phones had been tapped.
Some North Country residents are receiving notification that their phones were tapped during the manhunt for escaped convicts Richard Matt and David Sweat.
Clinton County District Attorney Andrew Wylie confirmed Friday that the eavesdropping warrants were issued. The warrants were issued June 7 by New York Supreme Court Appellate Judge John Lahtinen in Plattsburgh. A viewer sent WPTZ NewsChannel 5 a copy of the letter she received notifying her that her phones were tapped during the prison escape.
“Please take notice that eavesdropping warrants authorizing the interception of telephone communications were issued,” the letter said. Extensions to the warrants were granted on several dates. The letter said the warrants were terminated on June 13.
“During the period of authorized interceptions, your conversations were intercepted,” the letter said. The letter is signed by Wylie and instructs the resident not to contact his office. It references the case of Richard Matt, David Sweat, Joyce Mitchell and Gene Palmer versus the People of the State of New York.
The letter is dated Dec. 8, 2015, and cites New York Criminal Procedure Law section 700.50(3). The statute states those whose phones are tapped must be notified no later than 90 days after the warrants are terminated. It also allows for the person whose phones were tapped to review the communication collected with his or her attorney at the discretion of the presiding judge.
Wylie said investigators listened in on the phone calls made to or from Matt, Sweat, Mitchell and Palmer. “Any phone call that was made to or from one of those individuals named or family members — potentially of those were monitored,” Wylie told WPTZ NewsChannel 5. Wylie would not say how many eavesdropping warrants were issued during the manhunt. He said he would not comment further on the eavesdropping.