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Superior Court Briefs: August 8 - September 13
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Jeffrey Vigiard, 39, of Adams had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on single counts of aggravated rape, intimidation of a witness, burglary assault on occupant and breaking and entering in the nighttime.
Vigiard was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $1 million cash or surety bail. The incidents allegedly occurred in Pittsfield on March 24.
Cases heard before Judge MaryLou Rup on Wednesday, August 15.
Patricia Mullin, 58, of Great Barrington pleaded guilty to a single count of burning a building.
Mullin's case was continued without a finding for two years on the condition Mullin continue treatment and take medication prescribed by her doctors.
Mullin admitted to setting fire to the Mullin-Jones Antiquities in Great Barrington on December 10, 2011.
Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Monday, August 27.
Tiffany Brouillette, 26, of Pittsfield pleaded guilty to single counts of distribution of cocaine and conspiracy to violate drug laws.
She was released on personal recognizance pending sentencing on August 29, 2012. The incident occurred in Pittsfield on August 31, 2009. An additional count of drug violation in a school zone was dismissed by the state.
Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Wednesday, September 5.
Holly Moran, 26, of Pittsfield pleaded guilty to single counts of possession of heroin with intent to distribute, conspiracy to violate drug laws and operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license.
The drug charges were continued without a finding for one year on the condition Moran refrain from using illegal drugs and undergo testing and substance abuse counseling. The charge of operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license was placed on file.
The charges stem from a motor vehicle stop in Lee on November 9, 2011. Single counts of drug violation in a school zone and operating a motor vehicle without an inspection sticker were dismissed by the state.
Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Monday, September 10.
Christopher Dow, 39, of East Longmeadow had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on two counts of rape of a child and one count of indecent assault and batter on a child.
He was released on personal recognizance on the condition he have no contact with the alleged victim.
The incidents allegedly occurred in Williamstown between September 1, 1987 and August 31, 1990. The allegedly victim is a male who is now 33 years old.
Cynthia Merced, 32, of Pittsfield had not guilty pleas entered on her behalf on single counts of distribution of cocaine and conspiracy to violate drug laws.
She was released on personal recognizance. Merced allegedly sold cocaine and conspired with others to sell cocaine in Pittsfield on November 30, 2011.
Shaun Morton, 42, of Pittsfield had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on single counts of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute - his second offense - and operating a motor vehicle with a revoked licenses as a result of being a habitual traffic offender.
He was released on personal recognizance. The charges stem from a motor vehicle stop in Pittsfield on June 29, 2012.
Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Tuesday, September 11.
James Cashaw, 38, of Bronx, N.Y. had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on single counts of distribution of oxycodone and conspiracy to violate drug laws.
He was released on $1,000 bail. Cashaw allegedly sold oxycodone and conspired with others to sell oxycodone in Pittsfield on Jan. 3.
Tina Haddock, 31, of Great Barrington had not guilty pleas entered on her behalf on single counts of possession of heroin and conspiracy to violate drug laws, to wit: possession of heroin with intent to distribute.
She was released on personal recognizance. The charges stem from the execution of a search warrant at 27 Christian Hill Road in Great Barrington on Aug. 1.
Janine Shepard, 47, of Pittsfield had not guilty pleas entered on her behalf on single counts of larceny over $250 and making false entries into corporate records.
She was released on personal recognizance. Shepard allegedly took approximately $200,000 while employed at Greylock Federal Credit Union. The incident allegedly occurred in Pittsfield between January 1, 2010 and February 18, 2012.
Paul Shartrand, 46, of Pittsfield had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on single counts of assault with intent to commit rape, caretaker abuse on a disabled person and assault and battery on a disabled person.
He was released on $5,000 bail on the condition he remain at home except to attend church, medical appointments, court dates and attorney's visits. He must have no unsupervised visits with children under the age of 16 or persons with disabilities.
Shartrand allegedly assaulted a 55-year-old patient while working at Laurel Lake Center for Health and Rehabilitation in Lee on Aug. 12.
Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Wednesday, September 12.
Dominic Simonetta, 39, of Pittsfield pleaded guilty to two counts of assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon, two counts of assault by means of a dangerous weapon and two counts of assault and battery in connection with an incident involving a 43-year-old woman in Pittsfield on January 4, 2010 and June 3, 2010.
He also pleaded guilty to three counts of assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon and single counts of assault by means of a dangerous weapon, assault and batter, intimidation of a witness and threat to commit murder in incidents that occurred in Pittsfield with a 43-year-old woman between October 2, 2011 and October 6, 2011.
Simonetta was sentenced to serve concurrent two and a half year sentences at the Berkshire County House of Correction on three counts of assault and batter by means of a dangerous weapon, three counts of means of a dangerous weapon, two counts of intimidation of a witness and two counts of assault and batter.
He was placed on two years probation in two counts of assault and batter by means of a dangerous weapon and a concurrent six month sentence on the threat to commit murder.
Two counts of assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon, two counts of intimidation of a witness, two counts of assault and batter and single counts of kidnapping and assault with intent to murder were dismissed by the state.
Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Thursday, September 13.
Nisheen Davis, 39, of Pittsfield had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on two counts of distribution of oxycodone - his second offense - and a single count of conspiracy to violate drug laws.
He was released on personal recognizance. Davis allegedly sold oxycodone in Pittsfield on December 29, 2011 and January 3, 2012 and conspired with others to sell the drug on January 3, 2012.
Accident Reduces Route 2 To One Lane In North Adams
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According to responders on the scene, it does not appear that there were injuries and it is uncertain how the crash happened.
A late model Chevrelot Trailblazer was on the sidewalk and had crashed head on into a utility pole.
There is also damage on the side of the vehicle. The other sport utility vehicle, a gray Honda CRV, was moved into a nearby parking lot.
The road is expected to be fully opened soon. Both North Adams Fire and Police responded, as did the North Adams Ambulance Service.
Hermann Alexander's Owner Pleads Not Guilty To Drug Charges
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Mitchell Grossjung, 25, of Pittsfield had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on Tuesday to a single count of conspiracy to violate drug laws to wit: distribution of cocaine. He was released on personal recognizance.
Grossjung allegedly conspired with others to sell cocaine between Feb. 24 and April 3.
Grossjung already faces charges of keeping a place for registering bets for allegedly providing illegal poker machines to his customers. The Lyman Street bar was raided on the night of April 27 because Police believed the location was a "retail center of cocaine distribution."
However, the raid turned up little evidence except some corners of plastic bags that are used to hold cocaine. The gambling charges stemmed from that raid.
Since the raid, Police raided the homes of allegedly cocaine dealers they believed were operating out of the bar and that had turned up more than 160 grams of the drug.
The city's licensing board suspended the bar's liquor license for 60 days and later was lifted as the board hopes that Grossjung will sell the license. During multiple hearings, Police said drug charges were likely pending after testimony from employees arrested separately as part of the investigation indicates that illicit drug transactions took place at a rate as high as 50 customers per night.
Police have said Grossjung and other employees allowed the drug deals to happen, assisted in dealing and used the cocaine while working.
Police Arrest One In Theft From Williams College Building
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According to Police Chief Kyle Johnson, Tyler Morgan, 20, of North Adams was arrested and charged with larceny over $250, malicious destruction of property over $250 and misleading the police on Tuesday.
Johnson said in an e-mail that Police responded to suspicious activity at the Tyler House, which the school uses for upper class housing, where at least two individuals attempted to steal copper drainpipes.
Morgan misled police with "a tale of being carjacked at gunpoint," Johnson said, and police then spent a few hours attempting to locate the other suspects. Police were unable to find the other suspects but the investigation is ongoing.
The Williams College class of 2016 arrived on campus Tuesday for orientation.
Simultaneous Fires Investigated in Dalton
 Above: The home on Greenridge was significantly damaged. Below: A garage on Evelyn was also damaged. |
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According to Fire Chief Gerald Cahalan, the department responded to a structure fire at 73 Greenridge Drive at about 11:30 p.m. Saturday. In transit, firefighters spotted another blaze at 36 Evelyn St. The homes are less than a block away from each other.
He had expected to have a clearer idea of which way the investigation would go later in the day.
Departments from Hinsdale, Pittsfield, Lanesborough and Windsor were called in. The fire on Greenridge caused "significant" damage — leaving a woman, who was not home at the time, homeless. A neighboring house at 67 Greenridge Drive was also damaged by the flames.
The Evelyn Street fire was knocked down quickly and damage was confined to the garage. The family of four living at the Evelyn address were able to return to their home.
"My units did a great job knocking down both fires quickly," Cahalan said.
The majority of the firefighters left the scene at about 4:45 a.m. Sunday but an engine stayed on fire watch until about 9 a.m.
"The fire on Greenridge [moved] quick," Cahalan said. "We don't know what time the other one started. We can't figure out what started first."
Both fires appear to have been started in homes' garages. The causes are being investigated by Dalton Police, the state police arson unit and the Fire Department. Cahalan said he could not confirm the causes at this time.
Neighbors on the scene Sunday afternoon said there was a rash of fires in the same area just three years ago.
Correction: The fire chief's name was given incorrectly in this story and has been changed. iBerkshires regrets the error.
