North Adams Man Pleads Guilty to Firearm, Drug Charges

Staff Reports Print Story | Email Story
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — On Wednesday, April 5 John Bump, Jr., of North Adams, pleaded guilty to Illegal Possession of a Firearm, Possession with the Intent to Distribute Heroin and Possession of Ammunition.  
 
The charge of Illegal Possession of a Large Capacity Feeding Device was dismissed by the Commonwealth after acceptance of the plea. 
 
According to a statement from the District Attorney's Office, in March of 2023, Det. Joshua Zustra, of the North Adams Police Department, and members of the North Adams and Adams Police departments were conducting a drug investigation of the defendant and his home in North Adams. On March 9, 2023, they observed the 31-year-old defendant leave the home with a back-pack and get into an awaiting car. 
 
Pursuant to a search warrant, Det. Zustra stopped the car and removed Bump.  A search of his person yielded $740 in cash, and 70 wax baggies that contained heroin.  Detective Zustra searched the backpack that the defendant carried from the home and discovered a Ruger 9mm handgun, a magazine that contained 14 rounds of ammunition, 300 wax baggies that contained heroin and an additional $10, $290 in cash. 
 
In determining the sentence, the Commonwealth conferred with the arresting officers and members of the Berkshire Count House of Corrections. The defendant was sentenced to a total on 3.5 years at the Berkshire County House of Correction (1 year on the Possession with Intent to Distribute of Class A and 2.5 years from and after on the Possession of a Firearm without and FID card), and ordered to complete the in-custody drug treatment program at the Berkshire County House of Correction.  Upon his release, the Defendant must complete two years of probation with conditions that included continued drug treatment and counseling, no drugs with random screens and possess no weapons.
 
1st Assistant Marianne Shelvey represented the Commonwealth. The North Adams Police Department and the Adams Police Department investigated the case. The Berkshire County Sheriff's Department supported in sentencing determinations.

Tags: district attorney,   drugs,   guns,   

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

SteepleCats Swept at Home

By Ben McDonoughFor iBerkshires.com Sports
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. -- The North Adams SteepleCats matched the North Shore Navigators through the opening three innings Sunday evening, but a four-run fourth inning proved to be the difference as the Navigators earned a 6-2 victory and a double-header sweep at Joe Wolfe Field.
 
North Shore won Game One of the double-header, 4-2, following a shutout win over the 'Cats on Saturday night.
 
In Sunday's nightcap, North Adams received a strong start from Garrett Gates and solid relief work throughout the evening, but the SteepleCats were unable to overcome North Shore’s decisive offensive outburst in the middle innings.
 
Gates set the tone from the outset, retiring the Navigators in order in the first inning on a pair of groundouts and a pop out. The right-hander continued to keep North Shore off the scoreboard over the next two frames, working efficiently while allowing his defense to make plays behind him.
 
The SteepleCats had opportunities to strike first.
 
Jake Butler drew a walk in the opening inning before Sebastian Rhoades reached base and advanced into scoring position with a stolen base. North Adams again threatened in the second when Colsen Loughren lined a one-out double, but North Shore starter John Milewski worked out of trouble to keep the game scoreless.
 
Neither team found much offensive rhythm through the first three innings as both pitching staffs controlled the pace. Gates retired the side in order in the third, while the SteepleCats continued searching for the timely hit that could break the deadlock.
 
View Full Story

More North Adams Stories