PARIS – A Sumner woman pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of marijuana cultivation on Oct. 29 in Oxford County Superior Court.

Judge Robert E. Crowley fined Linda Lamontagne, 56, $450 for the offense.

In return for the plea, a felony charge of unlawful drug trafficking and a misdemeanor charge of unlawful drug furnishing were dismissed by Assistant District Attorney Joseph O’Connor.

Police with a search warrant arrested Lamontagne at her home March 10.

Seized in the search were 66 marijuana plants that were nearly 5 feet tall, and about two pounds of processed marijuana buds, said Maine Drug Enforcement Agent Tony Milligan.

Milligan estimated the street value of the plants at $52,000; the buds, between $2,000 and $3,000.

But, according to Lamontagne’s court documents, she said the police report “was extremely misleading.” She also said she didn’t have as many plants as police claimed.

A doctor’s statement in Lamontagne’s court file said the Sumner woman has suffered from severe and chronic rheumatoid arthritis for 17 years, and was using marijuana medicinally to curtail pain.

On Aug. 25, Lamontagne’s bail conditions were amended to allow her to possess up to 2.5 ounces of harvested marijuana, or a total of six plants, of which no more than three could be mature, flowering plants.