The lawyer representing former Oxford Tax Collector Karen Guillet said that discussions with prosecutors are ongoing in the case but it would be “premature” to call them plea negotiations.
Guillet appeared briefly in Superior Court in Milford Tuesday, where her case was continued to March 15 by Judge Richard E. Arnold.
Her lawyer, Dominick Thomas, told Arnold that he is still reviewing documents provided through the discovery process, and that he also needs time to respond to discussions he held with State’s Attorney Kevin Lawlor.
“It’s the way the process goes,” Thomas said outside court. “I want to make sure I go through (documents provided by prosecutors) properly.”
Asked if his discussions with the state could be characterized as plea discussions, Thomas said no.
“It’s premature at this point,” he said. “I have to go through everything and I have to sit down with my client.”
Guillet is charged with one count of first-degree larceny and six counts of first-degree forgery. She is accused of stealing cash from taxpayers and forging documents to cover her tracks.
She was silent during her appearance Tuesday and left court immediately afterward.
Guillet, the town’s elected tax collector for some 20 years, was arrested in late November after a two-year investigation by state police.
In addition to the criminal case, the town has a civil lawsuit pending against Guillet, claiming she stole more than $600,000 — more than state police allege in the warrant investigators received to charge Guillet.
Click here to read every story the Valley Independent Sentinel has published on the case.
