North Adams Man Sentenced To State Prison for Rape, Assault

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — On Friday, Oct. 17 Aaron Shepperd, 37 of North Adams, pleaded guilty to the following charges:
  • 3 counts of Rape of a Child with Force
  • 1 count of Indecent Assault and Battery of a Child Under 14
  • 1 Count of Indecent Assault and Battery of a Child Over 14
Shepperd was sentenced to 8 to 10 years in State Prison. 
 
"My thoughts today are with the young survivor. I commend them [singular] for the tremendous courage displayed throughout the entirety of the investigation," District Attorney Shugrue stated.  "While no prison sentence will ever undo the harm that was done, I do hope that today's conclusion provides an opportunity to move forward."
 
"I was pleased that this case was quickly resolved thus allowing the survivor of the assault to avoid having to testify in court about the abuse they [singular] endured by the Defendant."  
 
The Defendant raped and assaulted a child over a period of approximately three years.
 
Chief of the Child Abuse Unit Andrew Giarolo represented the Commonwealth. Ian Benoit served as the Victim Witness Advocate on behalf of the Berkshire District Attorney's Office. The North Adams Police Department served as the lead law enforcement agency investigating the case.
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Force 16U Defends Home Field with Tourney Title

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires.com Sports
PITTSFIELD, Mass. – The Berkshire Force 16U travel softball team Sunday rallied for three runs in the top of the seventh inning to pull away for an 8-4 win in the championship game of their Battle of the Berkshires tournament at the Doyle Complex.
 
Ava McMahon struck out six and gave up just one run after the first inning as the Force completed a 3-0 run through the playoffs after going 1-2 in pool play.
 
Mollie Crawford, Amelia Polidoro and McMahon each drove in a run in the late rally that finally gave McMahon a little bit of breathing room.
 
The Force jumped on top early with three runs in the top of the first, but the Nor’Easters out of New Hampshire’s Lakes Region responded right away, tying the game.
 
In the second, Amaya Alger (3-for-3) singled, moved up on Mackenzie Biros’ sacrifice bunt and scored on a combination stolen base/errant throw to give the Force a 4-3 lead it never relinquished.
 
But Berkshire missed chances to add to that lead in the third, fourth and fifth, leaving runners in scoring positions in each inning.
 
Meanwhile, McMahon was brilliant in the circle after a rough first inning, striking out six, walking just one and allowing three earned runs in a complete-game effort.
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