Wife of selectman charged with theft

DEEP RIVER, Conn. (AP) - The wife of Deep River First Selectman Richard Smith has been charged with embezzling money from a bank.

Forty-six-year-old Laura Smith turned herself in at the state police barracks in Hartford on Wednesday, the day after her husband, who is also a town police officer, was elected to another term. She posted $20,000 bail and was ordered to appear in Middletown Superior Court on Nov. 24.

Police say Liberty Bank found during an audit that an employee appeared to have taken money from bank deposits for about five months. The amount stolen was not disclosed.

Laura Smith is charged with first-degree larceny, a charge for thefts worth more than $10,000.

Messages were left for the Smiths Friday.