AUGUSTA — When Oakland police arrested Anthony W. Smith last September on suspicion of forgery, they found numerous fraudulent checks written on accounts purporting to belong to OneSteel Recycling Inc. and Irving Forest Products and fake identification cards in various names in his backpack.

Smith, 28, of Dixfield, also had “a thumb drive which contained his handiwork, essentially,” Assistant District Attorney David Spencer told a judge today in Kennebec County Superior Court. “He had in the past been issued a check by OneSteel and used it as a template to begin making up these fraudulent checks.”

Smith pleaded guilty to three counts of forgery and one count each of misuse of identification and refusing to submit to arrest or detention.

The offenses all occurred last September in Oakland in Kennebec County, Livermore in Androscoggin County and Skowhegan in Somerset County. Smith also faces similar charges in Oxford County, his attorney, J. Mitchell Flick told Justice Michaela Murphy.

At one point, Smith told investigators he needed the money to buy a car to get to school, according to a court affidavit by Officer Ryan Johnston of the Oakland police.

In fact, Maine State Police had issued a bulletin saying they were searching for a suspect cashing fake checks throughout Oxford and Franklin counties.

Smith was sentenced to three years in jail, with all but 45 days suspended, and two years’ probation. He was ordered to pay a total of almost $1,700 restitution for four different businesses.

A number of other people were sentenced today in separate hearings in Kennebec County Superior Court:

• Edward T.S. Bishop, 35, of Oakland, operating while license suspended or revoked, violating condition of release, failing to notify of motor vehicle accident and operating under the influence, all March 24 in Waterville; three-year jail sentence, all but 30 days suspended, two years’ probation, $1,350 in fines, six-year license and registration suspension.

• George P. Chesley 44, of Oakland, aggravated trafficking in scheduled drugs, violating condition of release and allowing minor to possess or consume liquor Feb. 4 to April 22, 2011, all in Oakland; five-year prison sentence, all but 364 days suspended, three years’ probation, $280 restitution.

• Jessica Donovan, 28, of Oakland, operating after habitual-offender revocation May 7 in Litchfield; 90-day jail sentence, $750 fine.

• John R. Henderson IV, 29, of Augusta, operating after habitual-offender revocation May 8 in Augusta; 30-day jail sentence, $500 fine.

• Jodi Lynn James, 36, of Hallowell, operating while license suspended or revoked March 6, 2012, in Oakland; $250 fine.

• Jonathan M. Kelley-Emery, 20, of Farmingdale; burglary and theft by unauthorized taking or transfer June 5 in Farmingdale; three-year jail sentence, all but 90 days suspended, two years’ probation, $80 restitution.

• Robert Lowry, 33, of Augusta, unlawful trafficking in cocaine base June 5 in Augusta; forfeiture of $1,366 cash, two-year prison sentence, $400 fine.

• Kathleen Ruff, 54, of Benton, theft, violating condition of release and criminal trespass April 14 in Gardiner; 60-day jail sentence with all but four days suspended (to be served in alternative sentencing program), $700 fine.

• Jordan Spencer Smith, 27, of Randolph, criminal invasion of privacy March 5, 2011, in Randolph, 60-day jail sentence, all suspended, one-year administrative release.

Betty Adams — 621-5631
badams@centralmaine.com

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