Staff Writer

 A La Kermesse director said he was surprised by the felony charges against the nonprofit festival’s former president.

Priscille Gagnon, 70, of Biddeford, was indicted last week by the York County Grand Jury on four charges.

The indictment alleges she committed theft and misuse of entrusted property from 2004 to 2010 with funds entrusted to her as president of La Kermesse and as treasurer of Western Oaks Condominium Association, according a statement from Attorney General Janet Mills.

The amount of the thefts is alleged to be in excess of $10,000 from each organization. The theft charges are Class B crimes punishable by up to 10 years in prison and two Class D misuse of entrusted property charges are punishable by up to 364 days in jail.

Gagnon stepped down as president of the annual Franco-American heritage festival earlier this year, citing personal reasons. The family had no comment and her attorney, Charles W. Smith, did not return calls for comment.

La Kermesse Treasurer Paul Gagne said festival organizers were “a little surprised” at the felony charges.

“Everybody’s pretty upset about the whole situation,” he said.

Vice President Raymond Gagne said last month that Gagnon allegedly used a festival line of credit after it was supposed to be paid off and closed. He said Gagnon apparently paid off the loan at PeoplesChoice, formerly St. Joseph’s Credit Union, but did not close the account.

Raymond Gagne said festival directors were unaware of Gagnon’s alleged use of the line of credit because she was the only person to collect the organization’s mail. Festival directors have since changed the way mail is handled by having having two members alternate pickup and give the mail to a third person.

The state Attorney General’s office investigated Gagnon after the case was forwarded by the Biddeford Police Department because of a possible conflict of interest. Police Chief Roger Beaupre is a former La Kermesse treasurer.

Paul Gagne said he and others involved with La Kermesse remain focused on the future of the festival, now in its 27^th year.

“There’s no reason we should stop because of this incident,” he said. “Hopefully this will make us stronger. We’re just waiting to see what’s going to come out of it.”

Festival directors will meet in August for their annual meeting to elect officers and begin planning next year’s festival, Paul Gagne said. This year’s festival is June 25 to 27 at the Biddeford Ice Arena and Expo Center.

City officials told festival directors earlier this year they could no longer use St. Louis Field, the traditional home of the festival. The festival disrupts athletes who use the fields and equipment causes damage, they said. The city has billed La Kermesse $25,000 for field damages from last year’s festival.