Alna Town Clerk Donna Wallace pled guilty to the charge of Negotiating a worthless Instrument Class E on December 20 in Wiscasset District Court. She was ordered to pay a total of $310 by February 21, 2008. The formal complaint in the court records accused her of "intentionally issuing a negotiable instrument, check number 2009, for $323.86, payable to the Town of Alna knowing it would not be honored by the maker." The charge was issued on the same date as the plea.

Wallace also entered a plea of no contest to the charge of Theft by Deception Class E. Wallace had been arraigned on this charge on July 11, 2007 and was represented by Attorney William Avantaggio. The Court deferred disposition on this charge until December 18, 2008. The case remains open with the condition that she provides proof to the Lincoln County District Attorney's Office that she paid her vehicle registration fee and obeys all state laws during the year.

Wallace was at work at the Alna Town Office on December 21. She admitted that she had written a check for her car registration to the town last February. "I bounced the check," Wallace admitted. "About two weeks later, I found out what happened. There was a lot going on in my life at the time, and I forgot to repay the money."

Wallace said that the next time she was reminded of the check was a few months later when the state police informed her she was being charged with Theft by Deception.

"I plead guilty to writing a bad check, but I was not guilty of theft," Wallace said.

Chairman of the Selectmen Billie Willard was contacted but said she was unaware that the case had been before the Court on December 20, and she had no comment at this time.