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Superior Court Briefs: Nov. 20 - Nov. 29
Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Tuesday, Nov. 20.
Kelly McIntosh, 24, of Pittsfield pleaded guilty to single counts of intimidation of a witness and larceny from a person.
She was given concurrent one-year sentences at the Hampden County House of Correction. The charges stem from an incident involving a 24-year-old woman in Pittsfield on March 4, 2017.
Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Monday, Nov. 26.
John Dyer Sr., 43, of Springfield pleaded guilty to a single count of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute.
He was ordered to serve two to three years at the Massachusetts Correctional Institution at Cedar Junction. Dyer will begin serving his sentence on January 10, 2019. The incident occurred in Pittsfield on March 24, 2017.
Garrett Vil, 27, of Pittsfield was found guilty by a jury on single counts of assault and battery causing serious bodily harm, and threat to commit a crime, to wit: murder.
He was ordered to serve four to five years at the Massachusetts Correctional Institution at Cedar Junction on the charge of assault and battery and concurrent six months at the Berkshire County House of Correction on the other charge.
Vil assaulted a 24-year-old woman in Pittsfield on March 4, 2017.
He was found not guilty on two counts of intimidation of a witness, and single counts of mayhem, assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon, and assault and battery.
Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Wednesday, Nov. 28.
Omar Marrero, 32, of Florence pleaded guilty to a single count of possession of heroin with intent to distribute.
He was ordered to serve one year at the Berkshire County House of Correction. He will begin serving his sentence on January 22, 2019.
The charge stems from a motor vehicle stop in Adams on September 26, 2016. A single count of drug violation in a school zone was dismissed by the state.
Anthony Stumbaugh Jr., 26, of Canaan, Conn. had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on single counts of injuring a firefighter in the line of duty, and burning wood.
He was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction without bail. Stumbaugh is accused of setting a brush fire at Bartholomew's Cobble in Sheffield on October 20, 2016. A North Canaan, Conn. firefighter was injured while helping to put out the fire.
Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Thursday, Nov. 29.
Christopher Rock, 36, of Lee pleaded guilty to single counts of unarmed robbery, larceny over $1,200, and possession of heroin.
He was ordered to serve concurrent four to five years at the Massachusetts Correctional Institution at Cedar Junction on the unarmed robbery and larceny charges. He was given a concurrent two-year sentence at the Berkshire County House of Correction on the drug charge.
Rock admitted to talking money from the Elm Street branch of Berkshire Bank in Pittsfield on September 17, 2018.
Mark Welch, 52, of Pittsfield pleaded guilty to single counts of possession of heroin with intent to distribute, conspiracy to violate drug laws, and possession of cocaine.
He was placed on one-year probation. The charges stem from a motor vehicle stop in Lee on October 10, 2017.
Thermostat Causes Small Fire In Pittsfield Apartment Building
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Firefighters snuffed out a fire at 99 Second Street Monday afternoon.
According to Deputy Chief Daniel Garner, firefighters responded to the address at 12:45 p.m. and found "moderate smoke condition" in apartment 104. A thermostat unit had failed, causing it to set on fire.
The plastic melted and then dripped and set carpeting, trim, and a portion of the wall to ignite. Firefighters evacuated the north wing of the first floor and extinguished the blaze with portable extinguishers.
There were no injuries reported and the fire was estimated to cause less than $1,000 worth of damage.
Lanesborough Police Seeking Info on Vape Shop Break-in
LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — Police are asking looking for help in identifying a group of individuals who broke into Uniq Vape on South Main Street and stole upward of $9,000 worth of products.
Police were notified of a burglar alarm at about 3:10 a.m. on Wednesday. Upon arrival, police found a side door kicked in with two muddy footprints on it. The store was in disarray and a glass display was destroyed.
According to police, video footage shows two parties checking the doors at about 2:49 a.m. and then returning 25 minutes later and kicking in the door. Those two were then joined by four others who ran through the store taking items. Those involved got into a vehicle and left and a K9 search was unable to track them.
"We reviewed the security camera footage and observed at 2:39 a.m. what appears to be two males, one wearing black and/or grey Adidas brand striped pants and sweatshirt, and the other wearing a grey hooded sweatshirt with a red Under Armour logo approached the building and attempt to gain entry through the front windows. After failing to gain entry from the front, the two parties walked around the building trying other windows before appearing to leave the area," reads the police report filed by Officer Ben Garner.
"A short time later at 3:04 a.m. the same previously described parties return to the building and one kicked in the south-facing side door. Immediately after the two males enter the building, four more parties ran from behind the BP gas station directly to the south and entered the building also. All six parties took various items from the store before exiting through the same door and running back behind the BP gas station."
Store owner Syed Quaseem provided police with surveillance footage of the incident and authorities are asking anyone with information to contact them at 413-443-4107.
State Police Investigating Burglary at Stamford School
STAMFORD, Vt. — State police say someone broke into Stamford School over the past weekend.
Trooper Nicholas Grimes' reported that the burglary occurred sometime between 10 p.m. on Saturday and 9 a.m. on Sunday morning. The press release does not state what if anything may have been taken from the school.
Anyone with information regarding the break-in is asked to contact Grimes at 802-442-5421 or nicholas.grimes@vermont.gov.
Superior Court Briefs: Nov. 6 - Nov. 15
Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Tuesday, Nov. 6.
Anthony Deordio, 43, of North Adams had a not guilty plea entered on his behalf on a single count of rape and abuse of a child.
He was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $10,000 bail. The incident allegedly occurred in North Adams on Nov. 1, 2017, and involved an 8-year-old girl.
Richard Dixon, 34, of Pittsfield had not-guilty pleas entered on his behalf on single counts of possession of child pornography, and dissemination of visual material of a child in a state of nudity.
He was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $5,000 bail. He is accused of being in possession of child pornography in Pittsfield between Aug. 23, 2018, and Sept. 14, 2018. He is also accused of distributing pornography on August 26, 2018.
Davon Kelly, 39, of Pittsfield had not-guilty pleas entered on his behalf on single counts of assault by means of a dangerous weapon, discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a dwelling, and armed career felon in connection with an incident in Pittsfield on Aug. 19, 2018, and involved a 27-year-old man.
He also had not-guilty pleas entered on his behalf on single counts of illegal possession of a firearm, illegal possession of a loaded handgun, possession of a firearm with a defaced serial number, possession of ammunition without a firearm identification card, possession of heroin, and armed career felon.
Those charges stem from an incident in Pittsfield on Aug. 30, 2018.
He was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction without bail.
Kurt Vosburgh, 54, of Stamford, Vt., had not-guilty pleas entered on his behalf on single counts of distribution of heroin and possession of heroin, second offense.
He was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $1,000 bail. The charges stem from an incident in North Adams on Oct. 5, 2018.
Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Wednesday, Nov. 7.
Shane Smith, 34, of Pittsfield, had a not-guilty plea entered on his behalf on a single count of providing misleading information to a police officer.
He was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $3,000 bail. Smith is accused of misleading officers during the investigation into the death of 34-year-old William Catalano.
Peter Campbell, 22, of Pittsfield pleaded guilty to two counts of armed assault with intent to rob and a single count of manslaughter.
He was ordered to serve 4 1/2 to six years at the Massachusetts Correctional Institution at Cedar Junction. Campbell was part of a joint venture to rob 29-year-old Anthony Gamache and during the robbery, Gamache was shot by Campbell's accomplice and later died.
Campbell also pleaded guilty to a single count of intimidation of a witness. He was ordered to serve two to 2 1/2 years in state prison on that charge. Campbell admitted to intimidating a witness in a criminal matter between Oct. 16, 2015, and Nov. 2, 2015.
Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Tuesday, Nov. 13.
Marchenne Hanson, 40, of Pittsfield had not-guilty pleas entered on his behalf on single counts of armed assault with intent to rob, assault and battery by discharging a firearm, illegal possession of a firearm, and discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a building.
He was released on $1,000 bail. The charges stem from an incident on Elm Street in Pittsfield on June 8, 2018.
Joseph Pini, 41, of North Adams pleaded guilty to a single count of possession of heroin with intent to distribute.
He was ordered to serve two years at the Berkshire County House of Correction. The charge relates to a search warrant at his home on August 9, 2017.
Jason Sefton, 20, of Pittsfield entered a not-guilty plea on a single count of murder.
He was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction without bail. Sefton is accused of stabbing and beating 34-year-old William Catalano in Pittsfield on Oct. 15, 2018.
Anthony Boone, 22, of Pittsfield entered a not-guilty plea on a single count of murder.
He was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction without bail. Sefton is accused of stabbing and beating 34-year-old William Catalano in Pittsfield on Oct. 15, 2018.
Bruce Romano, 28, of Pittsfield entered a not-guilty plea on a single count of murder.
He was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction without bail. Romano is accused of stabbing and beating 34-year-old William Catalano in Pittsfield on Oct. 15, 2018.
Joseph Stone, 40, of Pittsfield was found not guilty of a single count of assault with intent to commit rape.
The jury found him not guilty after two hours of deliberation regarding an incident allegedly involving a woman who is now 43 in Pittsfield on Oct. 23, 2016.
Alexis Gkoles, 36, of Great Barrington had a not-guilty plea entered on his behalf on a single count of rape.
He was released on personal recognizance. He is accused of sexually assaulting a 36-year-old woman in Great Barrington on Dec. 3, 2017.
Frederick Murnane, 29, of Sheffield had not-guilty pleas entered on his behalf on two counts of cruelty to animals and a single count of burning a dwelling house.
He was released on personal recognizance. Murnane is accused of setting fire to a home he owned in Becket on Aug. 28, 2018, and two cats inside died as a result.