Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Tuesday, July 26.

Paul Keele Jr., 24, of Pittsfield had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on single counts of distribution of cocaine, possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license - his second offense - and disorderly conduct.

Keele was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $2,000 cash or $20,000 surety bail. The distribution charge allegedly occurred in Pittsfield on November 30, 2010 and the other charges stemmed from his arrest in Pittsfield on July 1.

Jason Daigneault, 24, of Cheshire had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on single counts of armed assault with intent to rob, assault by means of a dangerous weapon and breaking glass in a building.

Daigneault was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $15,000 cash or $150,000 surety bail. Daigneault allegedly attempted to rob the clerk at West Street Wine and Spirits in Pittsfield on July 6.

Jeffrey Philpot Jr., 28, of North Adams had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on single counts of larceny of a firearm, illegal possession of a firearm, conspiracy to commit larceny of a firearm and possession of a firearm with one prior violent crime or drug offense.

Philpot was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $5,000 cash or $50,000 surety bail. The charges stem from the theft of a hand gun in North Adams on June 14.

Jeanette Brown, 34, of Ballston Spa, N.Y. had not guilty pleas entered on her behalf  on single counts of mayhem, assault with intent to kill and assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon.

Brown was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $5,000 cash or surety bail. Brown allegedly stabbed a 22-year-old woman in Pittsfield on June 7.

Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Wednesday, July 27.

David Pixley Sr., 62, of Great Barrington had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on single counts of burning a dwelling house, burning a building and eight counts of attempting to burn a building, motor vehicle, structure or personal property.

Pixley was ordered to be committed to the Veteran's Administration Hospital at Leeds for observation. The incident allegedly occurred in Great Barrington on June 22.

Eric Downing, 25, of Pittsfield had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on single counts of kidnapping, unarmed robbery, assault and battery on a disabled person and threat to commit murder.

Downing was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $1,000 cash or surety bail. The incident allegedly occurred on June 29 in Pittsfield involving a 57-year-old man.

Christopher Letalien, 26, of North Adams had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on single counts of larceny of a firearm, illegal possession of a firearm, conspiracy to commit larceny of a firearm and misleading a police officer.

Letalien was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $10,000 cash or surety bail. The charges stem from the theft of a hand gun in North Adams on June 14.

Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Thursday, July 28.

Vanessa Brown, 46, of Pittsfield pleaded guilty to single counts of larceny over $250 ongoing and continuing offense, uttering ongoing and continuing offence and making a false statement for medical assistance.

Brown was sentenced to  two to four years at the Massachusetts Correctional Institution at Cedar Junction on the larceny and uttering charges. S26
Brown took appropriately $26,000 in false medical assistance between November 16, 2007 and May 15, 2009.

Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Friday, July 29.

Michael Williams, 42, of Pittsfield pleaded guilty to single counts of possession of heroin with intent to distribute, drug violation in a school zone, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, ownership of a firearm without a firearm identification card, improper storage of a firearm and possession of cocaine.

Williams was sentenced to one year at the Berkshire County House of Correction on the heroin charge and concurrent one year sentences on the firearm and cocaine charges. Williams was given an addition two year sentence on the drug violation in a school zone charge. An additional count of firearm violation with three prior drug or violent crimes was dismissed by the state.

The charges stem from the execution of a search warrant on Spring Street in Pittsfield on May 12, 2010.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — A stretch of Church Street was closed for more than three hours on Thursday night after a strong chlorine smell was reported near the Hoosac Tunnel.

The hazardous material team found no indication of chlorine and the scene was being cleared shortly after 11 p.m.

The Fire Department responded to 892 Church St., near the mouth of the Hoosac Tunnel at 8 p.m. according to the police log. Public Safety Commissioner E. John Morocco said two firefighters in protective gear approached the tunnel and saw an "orange cloud."

"Just to be safe, we evacuated some of the residences on Church Street and West Shaft Road," he said. The Florida Fire Department also was alerted to check the town's entrance to the five-mile railroad tunnel but found no odor on their end.

Morocco said a train had traveled through the tunnel prior to the report of the odor. Pan Am Railways was contacted and the train and cars were stopped in New York State and inspected but nothing was found.

Fire Director Stephen Meranti, two fire trucks, police, North Adams Ambulance Service and representatives from the railway were at the scene.

The road was closed between Hodges Cross and the intersection with Ashland Street. There are few residences along that section of road, with most of the frontage taken up by cemeteries, Morrison Berkshire, Berkshire Family and Individual Resources, the old cider mill, the School Department's greenhouse program and a bus depot.

Chlorine is a common disinfectant used widely in swimming pools. It can irritate the eyes and respiratory system and, in high concentrations, cause lung damage and even death.

The hazmat team arrived at about 9:30 and four team members went to the tunnel to take readings that came up negative. A hazmat truck was also reportedly on Main Street for a time.

"They didn't find anything. Whatever was there had dissipated," said Morocco.

Residents were going to be allowed back in their homes as the scene was cleared.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A jury found a Pittsfield man guilty Tuesday of murdering his 27-year-old girlfriend in 2009.

David Vincent III, 43, was found guilty of first degree murder and sentenced to a life sentence at the Massachusetts Correctional Institution at Cedar Junction without parole in connection to the June, 2009 murder of Rebecca Moulton.

Moulton was beaten in a Fourth Street apartment that she shared with Vincent on June 3, 2009 and died the following day relating to the injuries. Vincent was charged with the crime and after a six-day trial, the jury deliberated for four hours over a two-day period before returning the guilty verdict on Tuesday.

Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Wednesday, July 20.

Andrew Latini, 23, of Pittsfield was sentenced Wednesday to four years in the Berkshire County House of Corrections after pleading guilty to an array of charges.

Latini pleaded guilty to single counts of burning a dwelling house, burning a motor vehicle, unarmed burglary, attempt to commit a crime, to wit: burning a motor vehicle, malicious destruction of personal property and defacement of real or personal property. He also pleaded guilty to nine counts of breaking and entering a motor vehicle in the nighttime, four counts of larceny under $250 and four counts of attempt to commit a crime, to wit: larceny under $250.

He was ordered to serve a two-year sentence at the Berkshire County House of Correction on the burning a dwelling house charge. He was given concurrent two-year sentences on the unarmed burglary, eight counts of breaking and entering a motor vehicle, attempt to commit a crime, malicious destruction of personal property and defacement of real or personal property charges. He was given concurrent one-year house of correction sentences on four counts of larceny and four counts of attempt to commit a crime, to wit: larceny.

Latini was placed on one-year probation with a $1,500 restitution on one count of burning a motor vehicle and one count of breaking an entering a motor vehicle charges.

The incidents occurred in Pittsfield on August 31, 2009.

ADAMS, Mass. — An accident on Route 8 Friday afternoon left a Florida woman dead.

Jill Keating, 46, of the town of Florida was killed after her Chevrolet Avalanche crashed into the back of a tractor-trailer that was preparing to take a left into Speciality Minerals at about 12:25 p.m. Friday afternoon, according to police.

Keating was pronounced dead on the scene and the driver of the tractor-trailer, Eduardo Manuel Nunes of Miami, Fla., was uninjured.

Route 8 was closed for about four hours and traffic was rerouted from Friend Street through the industrial park.

Emergency personnel on the scene were the Police Department, the Ambulance, the Fire Department, North Adams Ambulance and the Cheshire Fire Department. North Adams and State Police were requested for traffic assistance. The State Police Accident Reconstruction Team and the Truck Team were requested to investigate the accident.

A full investigation is still ongoing.