DEXTER — Tom Edwards of Dexter, a real estate agent with Century 21 in Dexter, has been fined $6,000 and his real estate license has been suspended for 90 days for improprieties during a real estate transaction this spring, according to Carol Leighton, director of the Maine Real Estate Commission. He also has been ordered by the commission to enroll in a real estate course having to do with agency law.

According to Leighton, Edwards was contacted by Donna Herring of Guilford to sell a piece of real estate in her possession. Leighton said Edwards then became aware that Viola Lander of Guilford, the ex-mother-in-law of Herring, was interested in purchasing this piece of Guilford property, but he was told that Herring would not consider an offer from this party, Leighton said. Edwards then agreed to let his secretary, Terry Nightingale, purchase the property, Leighton said.

The closing was held April 12 between Herring and Nightingale with a warranty deed made out from Nightingale to the ex-mother-in-law April 14. The next week it was learned that Roderick Lander of Guilford, Herring’s ex-husband, had moved into the property, Leighton said.

Commenting on the case, Leighton said, “From the beginning, Edwards misled Herring that the Nightingales were the true buyers.”

Leighton said that it was the commission’s opinion that Edwards had a fiduciary duty to the seller and “that he went to great lengths to deceive her.”

Edwards has 30 days to appeal the commission’s decision to the administrative court system, Leighton said.