PARIS – A former deputy clerk of Waterford, who was serving a six-month jail sentence for stealing money from the town, is recovering at her home after falling at the Oxford County Jail and severely injuring her foot.

Jennifer Morin, 35, of Norway Road is likely to return to jail to complete her sentence, said Capt. Ernest Martin, administrator of the jail.

He said Morin was given a medical furlough and put on home confinement after breaking three bones in her ankle March 4.

“She’s essentially swapping her jail cell for her home,” Martin said. “She can’t leave the house unless she’s going to a medical appointment.”

Martin said Morin broke her ankle while descending stairs at the courthouse during her trustee assignment to clean offices in the building. Inmates may work to earn time off their sentences.

Morin was taken to Stephens Memorial Hospital, and an orthopedic surgeon was called in to operate. Afterward, he recommended that Morin not undergo any activity that would put weight on the ankle.

Martin said Morin is one of four women in a space at the jail meant for two people, and that there was concern that she might re-injured herself if she returned to the jail to recuperate.

“Walking on one leg with crutches in a crowded environment, we just thought it was too much of a task,” he said.

Morin was released to her home March 5 after Martin briefed Sheriff Wayne Gallant on the matter.

Under conditions of home confinement, Morin must report to the jail whenever she is leaving or returning from a medical appointment. Jail officials will also visit and call at different hours to make sure that Morin is at home.

“Quite likely she’ll have to come back, because I think she’ll probably be healed before her sentence would expire,” Martin said.

Morin had served about six weeks of her sentence at the time of the accident.

A 10-year employee of the town, Morin resigned as deputy clerk on Feb. 3, 2008, and pleaded guilty last January to stealing about $158,000 from town accounts from 2002-2008. She was ordered to serve six months of a five-year sentence, pay a $1,000 fine plus some restitution and serve three years of probation. She began serving time on Jan. 18.