HOULTON – The secretary to the assistant district attorney in Houlton and her husband, a retired Maine State Police officer, were summoned for operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicants Monday morning after she arrived at work.

Lynn Appleton, 38, and Dennis Appleton, 56, both of Houlton, received the summonses on Monday after police observed both of them driving different vehicles near the Houlton courthouse, Lt. Dan Pelletier of the Houlton Police Department said Wednesday.

Pelletier said Officer Troy Fitzpatrick was on Military Street at about 8 a.m. Monday when he observed a car operated by Lynn Appleton come to an abrupt stop at the intersection of Kelleran and Military streets.

“It was because of the dramatic stop. That’s what initially caught his eye,” Pelletier said.

Fitzpatrick watched the vehicle proceed west on Military, traveling in the opposing lane of traffic. Pelletier said that the vehicle then turned south onto School Street and pulled into the parking area in front of the district attorney’s office.

Pelletier said the report was unclear on some details, but that at some point before Fitzpatrick took Appleton in for a sobriety test, her husband drove into the parking lot. Police believe he was there to pick up his wife. Fitzpatrick watched Appleton operating and exiting his vehicle, Pelletier said.

Based on what he saw, Fitzpatrick also took Dennis Appleton in for a sobriety test. The results of both tests, which police said were not available, prompted officials to summon the couple for OUI. The two are expected to appear on the charges on May 9 in Houlton District Court.

District Attorney Neale Adams said that the Maine Attorney General’s Office, not his office, is handling the case so there won’t be a conflict of interest because Lynn Appleton is an employee of his office.

Adams said the Aroostook County personnel policy prohibits employees, including those at the district attorney’s office, from possessing and consuming alcohol on county property and from appearing at work while under the influence.

County Administrator Doug Beaulieu said Wednesday that, under the personnel policy, Appleton has been placed on a five-day suspension without pay.

As for having an employee face such a charge, Adams said that the situation is “very painful.”

“We’re not worried about our own reputation, but we’re sad for individuals who find themselves in the circumstances,” he said. “Our job is to prosecute offenders on a regular basis. When it comes home, it’s difficult.”