PITTSFIELD, Mass. — David B. Harris of North Adams was arraigned on Wednesday in Berkshire Superior Court on single counts of possession of child pornography and dissemination of child pornography.

He had not-guilty pleas entered on his behalf before Judge Daniel Ford. He was released on $2,500 bail.

The 66-year-old former headmaster was arrested July 18, 2010, after police executed a search warrant at his Marion Avenue home. Police say they found USB drives with pornographic materials and a laptop with links to pornographic sites involving young boys. He is alleged to have disseminated child pornography on Jan. 24, 2010, and to be in possession of the materials on July 18. 

State police detectives assigned to the district attorney's office had been conducting a two months-long investigation, with assistance from both the Massachusetts and New York Internet Crimes Against Children task forces, as well as state police with the Middlesex district attorney's office and with the New York attorney general's office.

The Middlesex and New York police were involved because Harris was head of school for the Cambridge Montessori School, a private school for children from preschool to ninth grade, in Cambridge until his arrest and a trustee of one New York private school and former headmaster of another. He spent a decade as headmaster at Pine Cobble School in Williamstown until leaving in 2000.
 

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 Pittsfield man was found guilty Thursday afternoon in Berkshire Superior Court on several charges. The jury deliberated for about 15 hours over a three-day period before returning its verdict against 24-year-old Johnny B. Jones of Francis Avenue.
 
Jones, also known as John B. Jones, was found guilty on two counts of armed assault with intent to rob, two counts of assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapons, two counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and two counts of assault by means of a dangerous weapon.

Judge John Agostini ordered that he be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction without bail pending sentencing on Tuesday, Nov. 24, at 9 a.m.  
 
The incident occurred in the Pittsfield State Forest on May 18, 2007. The victims are two men who are now 22 and 23 years of age.
 
Jones was found not guilty on two counts of assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon and one  count of assault with intent to murder.

The investigation was conducted by state police detectives assigned to the district attorney's office, which provided this information.