Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Monday, March 9.
Andre Austin, 28, of Pittsfield pleaded guilty to single counts of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute - his second offense - illegal ownership of a firearm, improper storage of a firearm, possession of ammunition without a firearm identification card, possession of a firearm with a prior conviction for a violent crime or drug offense, and resisting arrest.
He was ordered to serve concurrent three and a half to five and a half year sentences at the Massachusetts Correctional Institution at Cedar Junction on the possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm with a prior conviction charges. He was given concurrent time at the Berkshire County House of Correction on the others.
The charges stem from the execution of a search warrant on Springside Avenue in Pittsfield on January 29, 2014.
Single counts of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, conspiracy to violate drug laws, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and illegal possession of a loaded firearm were dismissed by the state.
Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Tuesday, March 10.
Robin Houghtling, 20, of Pittsfield pleaded guilty to a single count of assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury.
He was ordered to serve 18 months of a two and a half year sentence at the Berkshire County House of Correction and placed on two years probation. Houghtling assaulted a 47-year-old man in Pittsfield on February 13, 2014.
Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Wednesday, March 11.
Matthew Calautti, 29, of Windsor pleaded guilty to single counts of armed assault with intent to rob and assault by means of a dangerous weapon.
He was ordered to serve 39 days at the Berkshire County House of Correction on the assault by means of a dangerous weapon and placed on one-year probation on the other charge. The charges stem from an attempt to take money from an employee at the Subway shop on Tyler Street in Pittsfield on January 3, 2014.
Jarret Ferriter, 21, of North Adams pleaded guilty to single counts of false report of a crime, and willful and malicious communication of false information to a public safety department.
He was placed on two years probation and ordered to pay $15,493 in restitution on the charges. He is also required to perform 150 hours of community services.
A single count of threatening to use an explosive and causing the disruption of a school was continued without a finding. Ferriter called the North Adams Police Department on October 6, 2014 and reported a bomb threat at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.
Malik Grandson, 22, of Pittsfield was found guilty of single counts of home invasion and assault and battery.
He was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction without bail until sentenced on March 23, 2015. The incident occurred in Pittsfield on May 20, 2013.
Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Thursday, March 12.
Scott Kearin, 28, of Lee pleaded guilty to a single count of possession of heroin.
He was ordered to serve six months at the Berkshire County House of Correction. The charge stems from the execution of a search warrant at his Franklin Street home on April 29, 2014.
Single counts of trafficking in heroin, illegal ownership of a firearm, possession of ammunition without a firearm identification card, and conspiracy to violate drug laws were dismissed after a motion to suppress the evidence was allowed by the court.
Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Friday, March 13.
Tareem Jackson, 27, of Troy, N.Y. pleaded guilty to single counts of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, and conspiracy to violate drug laws.
He was ordered to serve concurrent two and a half to three years in state prison. The charges stem from the execution of a warrant on Liberty Street in North Adams on March 17, 2014.
A single count of trafficking in cocaine was dismissed by the state.
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Police on Tuesday arrested three local men in connection with drug trafficking and recovered 640 bags of heroin.
On Tuesday, March 10, 2015 at approximately 3:20 p.m., members of the Police Department, with the assistance of the Berkshire County Drug Task Force and the Berkshire County Special Response Team, simultaneously executed two search warrants simultaneously at residences on Liberty Street and Gallup Street.
As a result of the search warrants, Joseph M. Pini, Greg M. Alexander and Kevin David were placed under arrest. Detectives and officers located the bagged heroin and thousands of dollars in cash between the two locations, and methadone and Suboxone.
All three were charged in Northern Berkshire District Court on Wednesday with possession to distribute a Class A drug (heroin) and conspiracy to violate the Controlled Substances Act.
In addition, Pini was charged with possession of a Class B drug (Suboxone); Alexander with same charge as a subsequent offense as well as possession of a Class B drug (methadone).
All three men are being held at the Berkshire County House of Corrections in lieu of $100,000 for Pini and $25,000 bail for the other two.
Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Monday, March 2.
Shane Hamilton, 25, of Dalton pleaded guilty to single counts of armed robbery, armed assault with intent to rob a victim over the age of 60 and assault by means of a dangerous weapon.
He was ordered to serve three to five years at the Massachusetts Correctional Institution at Cedar Junction. Hamilton robbed an elderly couple in the Price Chopper parking lot on March 12, 2014 in Pittsfield.
Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Wednesday, March 4.
William Kearin Jr., 29, of Pittsfield pleaded guilty to single counts of possession of heroin and possession of a stun gun.
He was ordered to serve concurrent one-year sentences at the Berkshire County House of Correction. The charges stem from the execution of a search warrant at his Hungerford Street home on April 29, 2014. A single count of conspiracy to violate drug laws was dismissed by the state.
Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Thursday, March 5.
Damarcus Swazy, 19, of Pittsfield pleaded guilty to single counts of armed robbery and assault by means of a dangerous weapon.
He was ordered to serve three and a half to five years at the Massachusetts Correctional Institution at Cedar Junction and pay restitution of $180. Swazy held up a cab driver in Pittsfield on February 16, 2014.
WILIAMSTOWN, Mass. — A North Adams man was arrested Thursday night in relation to the homicide of a former Berkshire County resident in Tennessee.
Anthony Hardaway, 34, who also goes by "Toney" or "Tone," is wanted in connection to the shooting of Perry Folk of Johnson City, Tenn.
According to media reports, Folk and Hardaway were believed to know each other. Folk, 38, was found shot to death in the parking lot of the Roadrunner Market convenience store in Johnson City on the night of Feb. 18. He had no identification on him at the time but was identified through fingerprints.
Police were searching for someone in a dark-colored vehicle who could be seen on video surveillance leaving the scene. According to the Johnson City Press, police said there were "numerous witnesses" at the store but no one saw what immediately led to the shooting.
Hardaway was taken into custody without incident by the Berkshire County Special Response Team and state police at a residence in Williamstown. He was tracked by a multi-agency investigation involving the Massachusetts State Police, FBI, police from Williamstown, Pittsfield and the Berkshire Law Enforcement Task Force, and police in Johnson City.
The investigation that led to his arrest was additionally assisted by intelligence gathered by the Troop B Community Action Team for Berkshire County, a uniformed patrol unit.
Hardaway's arraignment as a fugitive from justice and his eventual rendition to Tennessee is being handled by the Berkshire County district attorney's office.
Firefighters contained a blaze at 31 Commercial St. and rescued a man trapped on the second floor.
ADAMS, Mass. — Firefighters saved a man from the second story of a burning apartment building Thursday night.
The four-unit building at 31 Commercial St. had heavy smoke and flame showing in the back when firefighters arrived, said Fire Chief Paul J. Goyette.
"I got to commend my guys and ladies for the job they did," he said. "The man was basically trapped on the second floor. We put a ladder up and got him out of there.
"It started to get pretty smokey."
All other tenants were evacuated from the building; Goyette did not know how many residents were in the building but said there seemed to be quite a few.
No one was being allowed back in the building that night.
The cause of the fire was under investigation by Adams Police and the state fire marshal's office.
It apparently began outside on the first level in the back of the building, he said. "We had a pretty heavy fire on arrival but we were able to knock it down pretty quickly."
The department was dispatched at about 9:10 p.m. Officers and firefighters were still at scene at shortly before midnight.
"The operation went very well we had a good turnout," Goyette said. "We had a little trouble with the extension but we were able to knock it down.
"We're trying to get heat and electricity back to the place so it doesn't freeze up."
North Adams Fire Department was called to cover the station and a Cheshire engine company was requested to help spell firefighters working in the frigid cold.
North Adams Ambulance Service responded with the rehab trailer and Adams Ambulance was on scene as well.
The Department of Public Works was also on scene late sanding the icy street.
According to documents on file at the Registry of Deeds, 31 Commercial is owned by Guy Cariddi.
Commercial Street was closed for nearly three hours from the Center Street intersection.
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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Police on Tuesday arrested three local men in connection with drug trafficking and recovered 640 bags of heroin.
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Firefighters contained a blaze at 31 Commercial St. and rescued a man trapped on the second floor.