A deal former Alna town clerk Karen Lavigne Smith struck in a criminal mischief case could be in jeopardy from the Edgecomb woman's alleged violation of the terms of that deal.

Lincoln County Sheriff's Det. Ronald Rollins summonsed Smith October 25, for criminal mischief and violating a condition of her release. Smith allegedly dumped oil on someone else's property and threw someone's keys in a “large mud puddle,” Mason said.

Smith, 52, pleaded guilty August 9 to aggravated criminal mischief in connection with a 2011 fire at her Mount Hunger Road home. She was originally charged with arson but entered the plea to the lesser felony in a deal with the district attorney's office.

The justice who took her plea then agreed to defer sentencing for a year and, if certain conditions were met, reduce the conviction to the misdemeanor of failure to control a fire. Smith's sentence would consist of a $200 fine, and no jail time.

With her sentencing pending through August 2013, Smith is supposed to continue receiving counseling and do 100 hours of community service. She also needs to avoid criminal conduct.

Det. Rollins did not immediately return messages seeking further information.

Assistant District Attorney Andrew Wright, the prosecutor in Smith's  earlier criminal mischief case, confirmed November 1 that the October 25 incident could affect the deal to bump that conviction down to failure to control a fire.

No matter what happens with the deferred sentencing matter, the case would not revert back to the arson charge Smith once faced, Wright said.

If Smith ends up being sentenced on the aggravated criminal mischief conviction, jail time is a possibility, Wright said.

Aggravated criminal mischief is a felony punishable by up to 5 years in prison.

Jeremy Pratt, Smith's defense attorney in the aggravated criminal mischief case, did not immediately return messages.

Smith was Alna's town clerk for about a year between 2008 and 2009. In recent years, she had a dispute with the town of Edgecomb over her gravel pit. Her subsequent lawsuit against the town was settled out of court, after selectmen learned the town's insurance did not protect them individually.

Susan Johns can be reached at 844-4633 or sjohns@wiscassetnewspaper.com.