FRAMINGTON — The Norridgewock man accused of holding a paper mill manager hostage during a nearly 10-hour armed standoff has been indicted.
A Franklin County grand jury on Thursday indicted Francis Smith III on charges of kidnapping, terrorizing, criminal threatening and assault.
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The Sun Journal reports that a judge set bail at $50,000 cash, barred the 50-year-old Smith from having weapons, ordered him to have no contact with victims and stay off mill property.
Prosecutors say Smith had a shotgun and a handgun when he went to the Verso Paper Androscoggin Mill in Jay on March 14 and kept the manager hostage. He eventually surrendered.
Smith was reportedly angry at losing his job and upset at the treatment of workers.
His lawyers have said he would undergo a mental health evaluation.
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