Pittsfield Man Sentenced For Assault

08:16AM / Monday, March 06, 2023Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — On Monday, Feb. 27 Raphael Ellison, 68 years old, was sentenced by the Honorable Judge Callahan on five counts stemming from an incident on Nov. 11, 2020 at a residence on Linden Street.

On the evening of the incident, Ellison attacked and then threatened an individual he used to have a romantic relationship.

Ellison was in the process of moving out of the apartment he shared with the victim when he first assaulted her. A neighbor called the police who then removed Ellison from the apartment. Later in the evening Mr. Ellison returned to the apartment, forced his way in and again physically abused the victim and threatened both the victim and her family if she were to attempt to leave.

Sentencing: Count 1, Assault and Battery by Means of a Dangerous Weapon Causing Serious Bodily Injury sentenced to 5-7.5 years; Count 2, Assault and Battery Serious Bodily Injury, sentenced to 4-5 years; Count 3, Strangulation or Suffocation, sentenced to 4-5 years; Count 4, Assault With a Dangerous Weapon, sentenced to 4-5 years; Count 5, Kidnapping with Serious Bodily Injury, Armed, sentenced to 5-7.5 years.

The sentencing reflected the Commonwealth's sentencing recommendations.

Pittsfield Police Officers Gariepy and Tracy (who now works for the Lanesborough Police Department) were the responding officers. Assistant District Attorney Amy Winston represented the Commonwealth. Jane Kibby-Pierce, Director of the Victim Witness Advocates, served as the advocate for the victim.

Tags: assaults, district attorney,

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Pittsfield Considers Repairing East Part Cemetery

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
06:57AM / Friday, October 02, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Historical Commission will consider grant opportunities for repairs to East Part Cemetery.

A resident reached out to the city with concerns about degradation in the half-acre burial ground at the top of Williams Street. East Part Cemetery was established in the early 1800s and has about 300 interments.

“It's a nice old cemetery, and basically, (the resident) had had concerns that the stone wall had taken some damage, the gravestones have taken some damage, and was wondering if there's anything that could be done to repair the gravestones and the wall," City Planner Kevin Rayner told the commission on Monday.

In cooperation with cemetery leadership and residents, the Historical Commission will consider applying for Community Preservation Act funds to support repairs. West Part Cemetery, on the other side of Pittsfield, has previously used CPA funds for revitalization work.

The 1080 Williams St. property is owned by the city and managed by the Pittsfield Cemetery Commission. Rayner presented photos of broken and overgrown gravestones, parts of the stone wall collapsing, and knocked-over obelisks.

Some aspects could use general maintenance and restoration, he observed.

According to the Pittsfield Cemetery and Crematory's website, East Part Cemetery was established around 1808 on land owned by Nathan Webb, who permitted and authorized its use as a public burying ground.

In 1842, Nathan Webb's son, also named Nathan Webb, deeded the property to the Methodist Episcopal Society of Pittsfield as a public burying ground, and in 1893 the Trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Society transferred their control of the cemetery to the Proprietors of the Pittsfield Cemetery. Their action was confirmed by the Berkshire Probate Court.