Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Tuesday, March 1.

Sergio Santiago, 19, of Pittsfield pleaded guilty to single counts of armed burglary, assault on an occupant, assault with intent to commit rape, armed assault with intent to murder, unarmed burglary, assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon and intimidation of a witness.

The charges stem from an attack on a 24-year-old woman inside her Taylor Street home in Pittsfield on July 12, 2009.
 
Santiago also pleaded guilty to single counts of receiving stolen property over $250 and receiving stolen property under $250 in connection to two house break-ins on June 20, 2009 and June 29, 2009.

Santiago was sentenced to serve 18 to 25 years at the Massachusetts Correctional Institution at Cedar Junction for armed burglary and assault on an occupant. He was sentenced to serve 18 to 20 years concurrently in state prison for assault with intent to commit rape, armed assault with intent to murder and unarmed burglary.

He was given an additional nine to 10 years in state prison for the assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon charge and correction sentences on the remaining charges.

Joseph Bigelow, 27, of Pittsfield pleaded guilty to single counts of cocaine distribution, distribution of heroin and drug violation in a school zone.

Bigelow was given a two-year sentence at the house of corrections on the charges from drug sales on April 20, 2009 and June 4, 2009 in Pittsfield.

Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Wednesday, March 2.

Arthur Sebastino, 48, of Adams pleaded guilty to three counts of violation of a restraining order.

Sebastino was ordered to serve 83 days in the Berkshire County House of Correction. The incidents occurred in Adams on June 7, 2009 and June 8, 2009.

Frederick McKinley, 25, of New York City pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of cocaine and one count of conspiracy to violate drug laws stemming from a March 6, 2010 sale in Stockbridge.

A charge of possession of heroin with intent to distribute was dismissed at the request of the state after chemical analysis found the substance was not heroin.

Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Thursday, March 3.

Michael Campbell, 33, of New York City pleaded guilty to one count of possession of oxycontin with intent to distribute and one count of conspiracy to violate drugs laws.

Campbell was ordered to serve four to six year sentences at the Massachusetts Correctional Institution at Cedar Junction. The charges stem from an execution of a search warrant at the Willows Motel in Williamstown on April 2, 2010.

Jessica Ferris, 29, of Pittsfield pleaded guilty to single counts of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.

Ferris was given six months suspended sentence to the Berkshire County House of Correction. Ferris was placed on one year probation with the condition that she refrain from using drugs and alcohol and undergo counseling and testing.

The charges stem from a search warrant at her home executed on July 5, 2010.

Charles Cable, 31, of North Adams pleaded guilty to three counts of assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon in connection with an assault on December 5, 2009.

Cable was sentenced to the Berkshire County House of Correction for 18 months. Another charge of armed assault with intent to murder was dismissed at the request of the state.

Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Tuesday, Feb. 22.

• Travis G. Bateman, 35, of Pittsfield pleaded guilty to single counts of distribution of cocaine and manufacturing cocaine.

Agostini ordered that he serve concurrent 3 1/2- to five-year state prison sentences at the Massachusetts Correctional Institution at Cedar Junction on both charges.      
 
The charges stem from the sale of cocaine in Pittsfield on April 20, 2009, and the execution of a search warrant at a home in Pittsfield on July 17, 2009.
 
The investigation was conducted by members of the Berkshire County Drug Task Force. 

• Aaron Provencher, 36, of New Windsor Road, Hinsdale, had not-guilty pleas entered on his behalf on three counts of dissemination of visual material of a child in a state of nudity or sexual conduct and 12 counts of knowingly possessing visual material of a child depicted in sexual conduct.

He was released on personal recognizance. The incidents are alleged to have occurred in Hinsdale between November 10, 2009, and December 1, 2009.

The investigation was conducted by state police detectives assigned to the district attorney's office.

Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Wednesday, Feb. 23

• Adam Smith, 31, of Second Street, Pittsfield, had not-guilty pleas entered on his behalf for single counts of possession of heroin with intent to distribute (second offense), manufacturing cocaine (second offense), possession of methadone with intent to distribute (second offense), possession of marijuana with intent to distribute (second offense), four counts of drug violations in a school zone and possession of ammunition without a firearm indentification card.

He was ordered held in the House of Correction on $100,000 bail. The charges stem from the execution of a search warrant at his home on December 31, 2010.

• Gregory J. Mathews Jr., 23, of Second Street, Pittsfield, had not-guilty pleas entered on his behalf on single counts of possession of heroin, of methadone and of marijuana, each with intent to distribute; one count of manufacturing cocaine; four counts of drug violation within a school zone and single count of possession of ammunition without a firearm identification card.

He was ordered held at the House of Correction with $2,500 bail.

The charges stem from the execution of a search warrant at his home on December 31, 2010, and the investigation was conducted by the Pittsfield Police Department.  

• Christopher C. Mead, 28, and Elizabeth J. Mead, aka Elizabeth J. Rogers, 32, both of East Street, Pittsfield, both pleaded guilty to one count of possession of heroin.

Each was ordered to pay a $500 fine. The charge stems from a motor vehicle stop in Pittsfield on July 26, 2010.

•  Jeffrey A. Williamson, 47, had not-guilty pleas entered on his behalf on single counts of distribution of cocaine and possession of cocaine, both second offenses.

He was ordered held at the House of Correction on $5,000 cash or $50,000 surety bail.

It is alleged that Williamson sold cocaine on December 6, 2010, and was in possession of cocaine with intent to sell the drug when he was arrested on December 7, 2010. The incidents are alleged to have occurred in Pittsfield.

All information provided by the district attorney's office.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Ronnell Garmie, who killed a North Adams man in 2008, has been sentenced to prison on drug charges.

Garmie, of Bronx, N.Y., pleaded guilty on Thursday afternoon in Berkshire Superior Court in Pittsfield to single counts of cocaine trafficking and consipiracy to violate drug laws (distribution of cocaine). Judge Daniel Ford sentenced the 21-year-old Garmie to five to 5 1/2 years at Massachusetts Correctional Institution at Cedar Junction on the trafficking charge and a concurrent prison sentence on the conspiracy charge.

The charges stem from the night of Aug. 20, 2008, when authorities believe Walter tried to steal cocaine from a residence at Wheel Estates Mobile Home Park at which Garmie was staying. Garmie stabbed Walter during a scuffle at a residence; Walter, 24, was found by police on a neighboring lawn suffering from multiple stab wounds. He was transported to North Adams Regional Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

A grand jury declined to indict Garmie on charges related to the slaying. However, the investigation into the death resulted in the breakup of a drug ring operating out of the city.

Garmie was indicted on multiple drug charges and held on $100,000 bail; eight others were arraigned on a variety charges.

Garmie was found to have possessed more than 28 grams of cocaine on the night of Aug. 20, 2008. He also conspired with other others to sell cocaine in North Adams between Aug. 1, 2008, and Aug. 20, 2008. 

One suspect, Shelly L. Nichlen, then 30, pleaded guilty last March to single counts of furnishing misleading information to a police officer related to aiding Garmie to flee the scene. At the same court appearance, she pleaded guilty to single counts of armed robbery, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, larceny of more than $250 and misleading a police officer in connection with a robbery at Cumberland Farms on Dec. 2, 2007. Nichlen also pleaded guilty to single counts of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, conspiracy to violate drug laws and violating a drug-free school zone from motor vehicle stop in North Adams in April 2008. 

She was ordered to serve concurrent four- to five-year state prison sentences in Walpole.

Walter's mother, Constance Pratt, who drove him to the scene, was placed on probation.

The owner of the mobile home, Tina Senecal, 54, pleaded guilty on Feb. 3, 2011, in Berkshire Superior Court to single counts of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute and conspiracy to violate drug laws (distribution of cocaine). She admitted to selling cocaine in North Adams between Aug. 1 and Aug. 20, 2008. 

Judge John Agostini gave her a suspended 18-month sentence in the Berkshire County House of Correction on the possession charge and two years' probation on both charges on the condition she remain drug and alcohol free and undergo testing during the probationary period. A count of furnishing misleading information to a police officer was dismissed at the request of the commonwealth.

Garmie was found to have possessed more than 28 grams of cocaine on the night of Aug. 20, 2008. He also conspired with other others to sell cocaine in North Adams between Aug. 1, 2008, and Aug. 20, 2008. 

The investigation was conducted by members of the North Adams Police Department and state police detectives assigned to the district attorney's office.

Updated on Feb. 3, 2011, to insert Senecal's sentencing.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A North Adams woman pleaded guilty Friday morning in Berkshire Superior Court to several charges related to the circumstances regarding the killing of Daniel Walters two years ago.

Constance Pratt, 46, Walter's mother, pleaded guilty to single counts of attempt to commit a crime (larceny from a person) and furnishing misleading information to a police officer.

Pratt, also known as Constance Winnie, was placed on two years probation by Judge John A. Agostini on the condition that she remain drug and alcohol free and undergo testing to determine that as well as counseling during the probationary period.

On the night of Aug. 20, 2008, Pratt drove Walters to the home of Tina Senecal in the Wheel Estates Mobile Home Park so that Walters could steal cocaine from Ronnel Garmie, who was living there. During the attempted heist, Walters was stabbed and killed by Garmie. After the altercation, Pratt provided false information to police.

Garmie was not indicted in the slaying but his drug ring was broken up and a number of people were charged with various drug violations.

The investigation was conducted by state police detectives assigned to the district attorney's office who were aided by members of the North Adams Police Department.
 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A North Adams woman was arraigned Friday morning in Berkshire Superior Court on a drug charge. 

Eden J. Lemaire, 20, of Walnut Street had not-guilty pleas entered on her behalf on single counts of trafficking in Oxycontin and conspiracy to violate drug laws.

She appeared before Judge John A. Agostini, who released her on personal recognizance.

The charges stem from the execution of a search warrant at the Willows Motel in Williamstown on April 2, 2010. The investigation was conducted by members of the Adams, North Adams and Williamstown police departments and state troopers assigned to the district attorney's office, members of the Berkshire County Drug Task Force.