Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Monday, July 14.

 

William Soper, 32, of Pittsfield had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on four counts of rape of a child with force and single counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14 and intimidation of a witness.

 

He was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $25,000 bail. The incident allegedly occurred in Pittsfield between December 1, 2011 and January 31, 2012 and involved an 11-year-old girl.

 

Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Monday, July 15.

 

John Dyer Sr., 39, of Springfield pleaded guilty to single counts of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute - his second offense - and failure to wear a seatbelt in connection with in incident in Cheshire on November 24, 2012.

 

He also pleaded guilty to single counts of possession of oxycodone with intent to distribute - his second offense - possession of an open container of alcohol in a motor vehicle and failure to wear a seatbelt in connection with a motor vehicle stop in Dalton on May 7, 2013.

 

He was ordered to serve concurrent two and a half to three years at the Massachusetts Correctional Institution at Cedar Junction on the possession of cocaine and possession of oxycodone charges. He was given concurrent time that Berkshire County House of Correction on the marijuana charge. The remaining charges were placed on file.

Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Monday, June 30.

 

Brian Zerbato, 40, of Pittsfield had a single count of burning a dwelling house continued without a find for one year.

 

Zerbato is accused of burning down his West Housatonic Street apartment on October 9, 2009. During the one-year continuance period he is ordered to taken medications and remain in an in-treatment facility.

 

Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Tuesday, July 1.

 

Damien Galloway, 32, of Pittsfield had a not guilty plea entered on his behalf on a single count of distribution of cocaine - his second offense..

 

Galloway was released on $400 bail. The charge stems from a transaction allegedly occurring in Pittsfield on May 20, 2014.

 

Geraldine Keele, 51, of Pittsfield had not a guilty plea entered on her behalf on a single count of possession of cocaine - her second offense.

 

Keele is accused of being in possession of cocaine when she was arrested in Pittsfield on May 20, 2014. She was released on personal recognizance.

 

Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Wednesday, July 2.

 

Judith Luczynski, 58, of Pittsfield pleaded guilty to single counts of possession of heroin with intent to distribute and drug violation in a school zone.

 

She was given a one-day sentence at the Berkshire County House of Correction on the possession charge and two years on the school zone charge. The charges stemmed from the execution of a search warrant at her home on February 27, 2014.

 

Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Wednesday, July 9.

 

Jeffrey Mable, 37, of New York City pleaded guilty to single counts of armed robbery while masked, armed assault with intent to rob, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, illegal possession of a firearm, illegal possession of a large capacity weapon, illegal possession of a large capacity feeding device, illegal possession of a loaded firearm, assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon, resisting arrest, willful injury of a police dog, breaking and entering in the nighttime and larceny under $250.

 

He was ordered to serve concurrent eight to 10 years at the Massachusetts Correctional Institution at Cedar Junction on the armed robbery while masked, armed assault with intent to rob, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, illegal possession of a large capacity weapon, illegal possession of a large capacity feeding device, assault and batter and breaking and entering charges.

 

He was given concurrent jail time on the other charges. The incident took place in Pittsfield on January 25, 2013 and involved a 31-year-old woman and a 36-year-old man.

 

Michael Tarpeh, 24, of Stafford, Va. pleaded guilty to two counts of larceny of a motor vehicle and single counts of carjacking and assault and battery causing serious personal injury.

 

He was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction without the right to bail until sentencing. The charges stem from an incident that occurred on the Massachusetts Turnpike in Lee on February 22, 2013.

 

Sarah Turgeon, 28, of Williamstown had a not guilty plea entered on her behalf on a single count of possession of heroin with intent to distribute. 

 

She was released on $2,500 cash or $25,000 surety bail. The charge stems from the execution of a search warrant at her home on May 15, 2014.

 

Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Thursday, July 10.

 

Vincent Jennings, 24, of Pittsfield pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon.

 

He was ordered to serve six months of a two-year sentence at the Berkshire County House of Correction and placed on two-years probation.

 

Jennings admitted to being a participant in an incident that led to the shooting of two youths - now aged 15 and 18 - in Pittsfield on June 16, 2013.

 

Two counts of armed assault with intent to murder and single counts of illegal possession of a firearm and discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a building were dismissed by the state.

 

Cory Moody, 24, of Pittsfield pleaded guilty to two counts of distribution of cocaine and two counts of conspiracy to violate drug laws.

 

He was ordered to serve concurrent four and a half to five years at the Massachusetts Correctional Institution at Cedar Junction. The incidents occurred in Pittsfield between October 13, 2010 and October 21, 2010. 

 

A single count of trafficking in cocaine was dismissed by the state.

Two engine companies and a ladder company responded to the scene.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — West Housatonic Street was closed for about 45 minutes Monday morning after a tractor-trailer burst into flames.

 

According to Deputy Chief Bruce Kilmer, the driver of the semi suddenly lost power while eastbound near Clapp Park. He pulled over and noticed a leak before the flames burst out of the engine compartment and engulfed the front of the truck.

 

"I assume he had a fuel line leak but it is so hard to tell because the engine compartment was burned up pretty heavily," Kilmer said.

 

The driver was Demitres Cade from Albany, N.Y., and the truck was owned by Estes Express Lines of Glenmont, N.Y. Cade was the only one in the vehicle at the time and was unhurt in the fire. 

 

Two engines and a ladder company responded to the scene. In just 10 minutes, the flames were out, Kilmer said. However the road remained closed with detours in place for about 45 minutes. 

 

The mix of diesel fuel and fiberglass insulation caused a dramatic-looking black smoke to rise from the flames. The smoke rose high into the air and could be seen billowing into the sky from South Street.

 

According to Lt. Tim Bartini, the truck was hauling "lumber and wooden ladders" so there was no risk of any hazardous materials entering the environment. The trailer was not damaged by the flames, only the cab, which appeared to be an International.