CANTON — A St. Lawrence County corrections officer denied claiming he was still married to allow his ex-wife to receive medical benefits.

Bernard J. Debien Jr., 63, of Raymondville, pleaded innocent Monday in St. Lawrence County Court to two counts each of first-degree offering a false instrument for filing and third-degree insurance fraud, and a single count of third-degree grand larceny.

He reportedly didn't inform the county from Oct. 10, 2003, to Oct. 10, 2006, that he had divorced his wife, Maxine F. The county spent $62,056.98 on her medical expenses during that period. If he had informed the county, the medical expenses would have been covered by the county had he paid $8,642.68 in premiums, which he didn't.

He also reportedly submitted an enrollment form March 20, 2006, to St. Lawrence County Health and Life Insurance claiming he was married to Maxine, with the county paying $89,669.46 in medical expenses for her between that time and her death in early February.

Mr. Debien also is accused of submitting an insurance form Feb. 17 seeking life insurance payments from her death. The life insurance payments were never made.

County Court Judge Jerome J. Richards ordered Mr. Debien to turn over all weapons, including a gun that was stored in his vehicle.

In other court proceedings:

Michael J. Smith, 18, of 78 Beach St., Massena, was sentenced to one year of interim probation for being part of a group that went on a spray-painting spree July 28 that targeted St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church and other property in the village of Massena. He pleaded guilty in October to felony third-degree criminal mischief.

The interim probation calls for him to complete 250 hours of community service. The judge also ordered him to pay $3,384.77 in restitution.