WHITE RIVER JUNCTION — A 48-year-old White River Junction woman who was scheduled to be released from prison next week after serving a seven-year sentence for sexually assaulting two children will remain incarcerated.
In Windsor Superior Court on Monday, Lucinda Smith acknowledged she violated her probation by not completing a sex offender treatment program while incarcerated, which she was ordered to do when she was sentenced in March 2016.
As a result, she will remain jailed until she completes the Treatment Program for Sexual Abusers through the state Department of Corrections, which is scheduled to take about 14 months.
Deputy Windsor County State’s Attorney Heidi Remick said in court that Smith has indicated she now is willing to complete the program. It’s unclear what changed.
“It is the state’s hope that that happens so that Mrs. Smith can be released at her new proposed release date,” Remick said.
Asked by Judge Timothy Tomasi if there was anything she wished to say, Smith paused before declining.
Smith was arraigned last October on the violation, and at that time, there was some uncertainty about what might happen if Smith didn’t complete the program. There now is some clarity.
If she again declines, Remick said, Smith likely will be charged with another probation violation and the process will start over.
At Smith’s October arraignment, a Hartford Probation and Parole officer said Smith denies sexually assaulting anyone, something that makes her unfit for the sex offender treatment program, according to an affidavit filed in Windsor Superior Court.
“She wasn’t actually sure if any of it occurred and that she believed she didn’t do anything wrong and that all information said by her victims (were) fed to them by police,” the affidavit indicated.
The program “teaches offenders how to accept, understand, modify and maintain permanent changes in behavior relating to illegal sexual behavior,” according to the state’s website.
Smith and her husband, 52-year-old Steven Smith, pleaded guilty, first in 2013 and again in 2015, to sexually assaulting juveniles who were known to them. They were arrested in 2012, and remained incarcerated as their cases played out. A Supreme Court ruling allowed them to withdraw their first set of pleas.
Lucinda Smith was sentenced in 2016 to 20 years to life, all suspended, except for seven years to serve. Steven Smith received a similar sentence, but with eight years to serve.
At their sentencing hear in March 2016, the Smiths both expressed remorse for their actions.
Steven Smith is scheduled for release in July 2020. He remains incarcerated at Northwest State Correctional Facility in Swanton, Vt.
Lucinda Smith was slated to be released this coming Sunday, according to state records.
Jordan Cuddemi can be reached at jcuddemi@vnews.com or 603-727-3248.