PITTSFIELD - A former Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts student was found not guilty Tuesday on drug charges dating back nearly two years.
A Berkshire Superior Court jury deliberated for nearly 14 hours before finding Brad M. Kera, now 20, not guilty of one count of possession of cocaine. The jury was unable to reach a verdict on single counts of possession of ecstasy and marijuana with intent to distribute, according to the district attorney's office.
Kera's room in Hoosac Hall in North Adams was searched on Feb. 12, 2006, and police with the Berkshire County Drug Task Force said they found scales, 23 tablets of ecstasy worth nearly $700, a pipe, dealer "blowout" baggies, what appeared to be dealer's notes and other paraphernalia. According to the MCLA Beacon, Kera's roommate also was arrested but later released because police said all the items were found within "the reach or control of Kera."
Kera, of Leominster, was a sophomore exchange student at the time. He no longer attends MCLA.
During the two-day trial last week, Assistant District Attorney Marianne Shelvey said the drugs and items were found in Kera's desk and in a black, metal box with two combination locks, according The Berkshire Eagle. She asked the jurors to use common sense in their deliberations.
Kera's attorney, Judith Knight of Great Barrington, said police had failed to surveil the defendant's dormitory or take fingerprint evidence from the items seized, according to The Eagle. She also said they failed to determine if anyone on the so-called dealer's list had ever purchased drugs from Kera.
The jury was unable to reach a verdict Thursday and Judge John A. Agostini dismissed the panel until Monday. The verdict was returned on Tuesday.
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