FARMINGTON — Three additional felony charges of criminal threatening were added to charges of kidnapping and criminal threatening when Francis Smith made an initial appearance in Franklin County Superior Court on Friday.

No plea was entered.

Smith, 50, of Norridgewock was arrested on charges of kidnapping and criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon Wednesday after holding Verso Androscoggin Mill Manager Marc Connor hostage for more than nine hours.

Charges added by the District Attorney’s Office involve other people at the mill office where police say Smith entered armed with a shotgun and a pistol.

Mill employees tried to take the shotgun from Smith, according to court records. “He then pulled out a handgun from his waistband and held the employees at bay.” Smith then went into Connor’s office and police evacuated the building.

Judge Valerie Stanfill set bail at $50,000 cash or $500,000 surety bond with conditions that Smith not possess dangerous weapons including firearms, that he have no contact with six victims, not go onto Verso property including the Jay and Bucksport mills and not enter the town of Jay.

The judge also placed Smith under a court-ordered commitment for a mental health evaluation at the Maine Department of Health and Human Service’s Riverview Psychiatric Center. Smith will undergo observation and treatment for not more than 60 days once a room is available.

Attorney Margot Joly, who represented Smith in court Friday, said he would remain at Somerset County Jail until he could go to Riverview. She expected that would take place next week.

Joly said she felt the evaluation was necessary. In talking with Smith prior to court and from his actions in court, she said he was confused and appeared to be depressed.

Once the evaluation is done, the court-appointed defense lawyers, Joly and Christopher Berryment, will get a report on his condition and “know where to go,” she said of Smith’s defense. Joly had little time to speak with Smith before court and had limited information on his actions, she said.

Stanfill scheduled Smith or his attorney to return to court on April 20.

A felony kidnapping charge carries a prison sentence of up to 30 years, with a mandatory sentence of at least four years, Stanfill said.

On the four criminal-threatening charges, Smith faces a maximum five-year sentence with fines and a mandatory one-year sentence on each charge.

Smith’s father and sister were present for the court appearance but declined to speak to the media.

“They are so thankful that no one was hurt,” Joly said. “They wanted me to convey their appreciation to the State Police Tactical Team for the job they did.”

According to court records, Jay police officers heard two men believed to be Smith and Connor talking through the locked door of the manager’s office before state police arrived.

Smith said he was angry and upset about losing his job at the mill. “Francis was also upset about how others have been treated at the mill,” according to court records.

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