By Molly Darrow.

The man convicted for killing a Sheriff’s deputy and escaping from a maximum-security prison, leading to a manhunt that lasted for weeks last summer, was sentenced for the escape.


In November, David Sweat pleaded guilty to two counts of escape and one count of promoting prison contraband. On Wednesday morning at the Clinton County Court in Plattsburgh, David Sweat was sentenced to three-and-a-half years to seven years in prison for his escape from the Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora in June. This is the maximum sentence for the escape charges.


He was also ordered to pay more than $79,000 in restitution fees.


During the sentencing, Sweat apologized for putting fear into the community.


Prior to his escape, Sweat was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Broome County Sheriff's deputy Kevin Tarsia in 2002.


Sweat and another inmate, Richard Matt, broke out of the Correctional Facility on June 5th and led police on a three week chase before being captured.


Matt was shot and killed by law enforcement on June 26th. Sweat was captured two days later.