AUGUSTA — A woman indicted in November 2014 on six drug charges, including aggravated trafficking in heroin, pleaded guilty Tuesday to felony marijuana cultivation, and the other five charges were dismissed.
If Angie L. Sousa, 32, of Farmingdale, meets the terms of the deferred disposition agreement spelled out in Kennebec County Superior Court, she can retract that felony plea in a year and instead plead guilty to misdemeanor marijuana cultivation.
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The sentence then would be seven days in jail, with credit for seven days served, and a $500 fine, according to the agreement.
The prosecutor, Assistant Attorney General Katie Sibley, said Sousa was at an apartment at 58 River St. in Augusta on Sept. 17, 2014, when police and drug enforcement agents executed a search warrant and found 114 marijuana plants.
Sibley said marijuana plants were on the porch, in the living room, in the kitchen, in the bedrooms and in a closet and that Sousa told authorities that she lived there three to four days a week and acknowledged that the utility bills were in her name.
“We believe sufficient evidence exists to prove she was in possession of more than 100 plants,” Sibley told Justice Andrew Horton.
Defense attorney Brad Grant agreed with the judge that Sousa was pleading guilty under the theory of accomplice liability.
“The most damning evidence is the electric bill in her name,” Grant said.
Also arrested that day and indicted on eight drug charges, including three of aggravated trafficking in scheduled drugs, was Franklin F. Arbour Jr., 38. The indictment says Arbour lives at the River Street apartment, and one police affidavit describes Sousa as his girlfriend.
He returned home during the police search, according to the affidavit, and told law enforcement agents that Sousa “had nothing to do with this. Go ahead and arrest me.”
Those charges remain pending, Sibley said after Sousa’s hearing. Conditions of Sousa’s deferred disposition prohibit her from contact with Arbour.
Police said they found $30,000 worth of drugs at the site: 1,250 bags of heroin, 24 grams of cocaine, 13 grams of bath salts and the marijuana plants.
A number of other people were sentenced Tuesday in separate cases in Kennebec County Superior Court:
• Jodi Lynn James, 38, of Waterville, operating under the influence Oct. 19, 2014, in Augusta; 180-day jail sentence, all but 10 days suspended, to be served in the alternative sentencing program, one-year probation, $700 fine, three-year license and registration suspension.
• Sadie Rae Joseph, 25, of Vassalboro, operating under the influence Sept. 13, 2014, in Augusta, and theft by unauthorized taking Oct. 3, 2014, in Waterville; 180-day jail sentence, all but seven days suspended, to be served in the alternative sentencing program, one-year probation, $700 fine.
• Heather Lee Jurdak, 31, formerly of Vassalboro and now of Augusta, two counts of assault Dec. 9, 2013, and Sept. 17, 2013, both in Augusta; six-month jail sentence, credit for six months served, $300 fine. Several other charges against Jurdak were dismissed, including two counts of assault on an officer and one of violating a protective order.
• Jeremy C. Handley, 28, of Waterville, forgery Dec. 11, 2013, in Oakland; 364-day jail sentence, all suspended, one-year probation; $2,500 restitution.
• Scott M. Henson, 41, of Lewiston, operating under the influence and criminal mischief April 13, 2014, in Monmouth; 364-day jail sentence, all but 12 days suspended, $700 fine, $290 restitution, three-year license and registration suspension.
• Gail Sinden, 60, of Baldwin, operating under the influence July 27, 2014, in Waterville; $1,000 fine, 150-day license suspension.
• Nichole Stump, unlawful possession of scheduled drug April 28, 2014, in West Gardiner; seven-day jail sentence, $400 fine, $480 restitution.
Betty Adams — 621-5631
Twitter: @betadams
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