First Assistant District Attorney Named Mass Prosecutor of the Year

07:07AM / Wednesday, April 08, 2026Print Story | Email Story

1st ADA Shelvey pictured with attorneys from the Berkshire District Attorney’s Office at the annual MDAA Conference.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — On Thursday, March 26 Marianne Shelvey, First Assistant District Attorney at the Berkshire District Attorney's Office, was awarded the 2026 William C. O'Malley Prosecutor of the Year by the Massachusetts District Attorneys Association while at the annual MDAA conference in Boston.

First Assistant District Attorney Shelvey was nominated based on her work and leadership within the office, including her successful trial record. Highlights of her career in the Berkshire District Attorney's Office included the Commonwealth v. Lance Burke and the Commonwealth vs. Desmond Phillip trials as well as the recent David Morrison double plea in both Massachusetts and Vermont for kidnapping and murder, respectively.

"It was without hesitation that I nominated First Assistant Marianne Shelvey for the William C. O'Malley Prosecutor of the Year Award," District Attorney Shugrue said. "Her exceptional legal skills, commitment to justice, dedication to fighting for victims of crime, and leadership make her an outstanding candidate for this esteemed recognition. Marianne is a prosecutor of the highest caliber, and her skills and compassion have made our community safer."

In the Commonwealth v. Lance Burke, First Assistant District Attorney Shelvey and Assistant District Attorney Valentine successfully tried one of the first cases in the Commonwealth utilizing only digital evidence. This groundbreaking conviction provided insight into the future of criminal prosecution that utilizes not just genetic DNA but also digital DNA.

Prior to her time as First Assistant District Attorney, Attorney Shelvey served as both an assistant district attorney in Berkshire County and most recently a federal prosecutor in the United States Department of Justice. During her time with the DOJ, First Assistant Shelvey was assigned to the Organized Crime and Gang Section representing the United States in crimes including national and international narcotics distribution and firearms trafficking, extortion, and murder both in the United States and abroad.

The William C. O'Malley Prosecutor of the Year is given annually by the Massachusetts District Attorneys Association (MDAA) to recognize exceptional prosecutors who embody professionalism, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to justice. First Assistant District Attorney Shelvey will be presented with the award at the annual Massachusetts District Attorneys Association conference in late March.

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15 People Displaced in Pittsfield Home Fires

Staff Reports11:35AM / Sunday, October 11, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Fifteen people were displaced after 2-alarm home fires this weekend on Springside Avenue and Elaine Drive.

On Friday evening, the Fire Department responded to a structure fire at 209 Springside Ave., which took a four-hour battle to extinguish and resulted in a partial roof collapse. The next day, on Saturday evening, crews knocked down a fire at 121 Elaine Drive in about an hour.

The garage and part of the single-family home on Elaine Drive were gutted to the frame, along with a vehicle parked in the driveway. On Springside Avenue, the top level and porch of the multifamily were burned through.

A GoFundMe has been started for the family of the Elaine Drive home, which includes several young children. The fundraiser, with a $5,500 goal, explains they lost their home and all of their belongings. (iBerkshires.com does not confirm or endorse fundraisers; they are provided as information only.)

There were no civilian or firefighter injuries, and both incidents are under investigation. One dog was rescued on Springside Avenue.

On Oct. 10, around 6:15 p.m., PFD responded to the Springside Avenue home for a reported structure fire and saw a 2 1/2-story wood frame multifamily with a heavy blaze showing from the second-floor front porch, extending out.

The building suffered a partial roof collapse, which prolonged extinguishment. The fire was brought under control after about four hours.

“An aggressive offensive attack was mounted by first arriving crews stretching hose lines into the building as well as primary searches that proved negative. Ladders were placed around the structure to provide access as well as escape if needed. An off-duty Fire Captain had also been on scene early in the incident to help evacuate the structure and rescue a dog,” PFD wrote in a press release.

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