FARMINGTON — A Maine man accused of holding a paper mill manager hostage during a 10-hour standoff has been ordered held on $50,000 bail.

Fifty-year-old Frank Smith III of Norridgewock did not enter a plea during his initial court appearance Friday in Farmington District Court. He’s charged with kidnapping and four counts of criminal threatening in the incident Wednesday at Verso Paper’s Androscoggin Mill in Jay.

WMTW-TV says charges together carry a penalty of up to 50 years in prison.

According to police documents, Smith was overheard telling the manager he was angry about losing his job and over the treatment of other workers.

Smith allegedly went to mill with a gun Wednesday morning. He released the manager at about 3:30 p.m. and surrendered peacefully at about 6:30 p.m.

 


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