Cases heard before Judge Maureen Hogan on Wednesday, May 30.

 

Raekwan Jackson, 22, of Springfield had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on single counts of possession of heroin with intent to distribute, possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, and unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.

 

The charges stem from a motor vehicle stop in Pittsfield on March 21, 2018. 

 

Cases heard before Judge Mark Mason on Wednesday, June 6.

 

William Fiske III, 29, of Pittsfield pleaded guilty to single counts of breaking and entering in  the daytime, assault by means of a dangerous weapon, larceny from a building, assault and battery, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, vandalize property, operating a motor vehicle with a suspended  license, and  failure to stop for a police officer in relation to an incident in Pittsfield on March 23, 2016 and  involved a 56-year-old man and two women, ages 22 and 24.

 

He was ordered to serve 729 days, time served, at the Berkshire County House of Correction on the charges of breaking and entering a building in the daytime, assault by means of a dangerous weapon, and larceny from a building charges. He was given concurrent six-month sentences on the assault and battery, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, and vandalize property changes. The others were placed on file.

 

Single counts of armed assault with intent to murder, violation of a restraining order, assault and battery, and threat to commit a crime were dismissed by the state.

 

Fiske also pleaded guilty three counts of assault and battery on a correction officer and a single count of threat to commit a crime in connection with an incident at the Berkshire County House of Correction on May 5, 2016. He was ordered to serve concurrent six-month sentences on those charges.

 

Christine Bradley, 55, of Pittsfield had a not guilty plea entered on her behalf on a single count of trafficking in oxycodone. She was released on personal recognizance. 

 

The charge stems from a motor vehicle stop in Pittsfield on April 13, 2018.

 

Antonio Hernandez, 27, of North Adams had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on single counts of manufacturing cocaine, conspiracy to violate drug laws, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, illegal ownership of a firearm, possession of ammunition without a firearm identification card, and improper storage of a firearm.

 

He was released on $5,000 bail. The charges stem from the execution of a search warrant at his home on March 2, 2018.

 

Brittany Sanders, 32, of Pittsfield had a not guilty plea entered on her behalf on a single count of trafficking in oxycodone. She was released on personal recognizance. 

 

The charge stems from a motor vehicle stop in Pittsfield on April 13, 2018.

 

Cases heard before Judge Mark Mason on Thursday, June 7.

 

Isaac Harris-El, 43, of Watervliet pleaded guilty to a single count of assault and battery on a disabled person. 

 

He was given a one-year suspended sentence at the Berkshire County House of Correction and placed on one-year probation. Harris-El assaulted a student while employed by Eagleton School between March 1, 2015 and March 31, 2015. 

 

A single count of intimidation of a witness was dismissed by the state.

 

Lindsay Lancto, 28, of West Stockbridge had not guilty pleas entered on her behalf on two counts of illegal ownership of a firearm, two counts of improper storage of a firearm, two counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and single counts of possession of heroin with intent to distribute, illegal possession of a large capacity weapon, improper storage of a large capacity firearm, possession of a large capacity firearm durin the commission of a firearm, illegal possession of a large capacity feeding device, and possession of ammunition without a firearm identification card.

 

She was released on $1,000 bail. The charges stem from the execution of a search warrant at Pebble Street in North Adams on February 1, 2018.

 

Jamel Nicholson, 29, of  Pittsfield had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on single counts of armed career felon, illegal possession of a firearm, illegal possession of a loaded firearm, and possession of ammunition without a firearm identification card.

 

He was released on personal recognizance. The charges stem from a motor vehicle stop in Cheshire on February 28, 2018.

 

Noel Torres, 29,of North Adams had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on two counts of improper storage of a firearm, two counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and single counts of possession of heroin with intent to distribute - his second offense - possession of cocaine, illegal possession of a firearm - his second offense - illegal possession of a large capacity weapon, improper storage of a large capacity firearm, possession of a large capacity firearm during the commission of a felony, possession of ammunition without a firearm identification card, illegal possession of a large capacity feeding device, and armed career felon.

 

He was released on $2,500 bail. The charges stem from the execution of a search warrant at his home on February 1, 2018.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Fire destroyed a city couple's Highland Avenue home Friday afternoon.

 

Deputy Chief Andrew Stephenson said a passerby noticed the outside of the home on fire at about 3:30 and called 911. Upon arrival, firefighters found the exterior on fire.

 

"The exterior of the house, the left side, was pretty heavily involved in fire. It was obvious the fire started on the outside of the house. While crews were here, it burned into the second floor through the window. It burned up the wall, through the window, burned up to the roofline, and got up into the attic," Stephenson said.

 

Stephenson said it isn't known exactly what caused the fire but investigators have pinpointed the origin and are narrowing in on a cause. The owner was working in a woodshop in the rear of the property at the time and the house was out of his view when the fire started.

 

Neither occupant was injured in the blaze and firefighters were able to rescue two cats. However, a third cat perished in the fire. 

 

Stephenson said the homeowners declined assistance from the Red Cross and will find alternative housing on their own. He said the home suffered heavy damage and is likely considered beyond repair.

 

The department first responded with three engine companies, a ladder truck, and a deputy chief but quickly called for two more engine companies. 

 

"It was just a hot, humid day so it is hard for the crews to work. You always have to worry about heat exposure so that's why the on-duty deputy called Hinsdale rehab trailer. They come with water, a bus with air conditioning," Stephenson said.

 

The deputy chief said the fire had burned to a point where there was little they could do to halt the damage. But he credited firefighters for their efforts in stopping the blaze quickly after arriving.

 

"They did an outstanding job. They encountered an involved full side of the house. The damage was done pretty much prior to the Fire Department getting here but they did a great job knocking it down and putting the rest of the fire out. It is pretty tough in the hot conditions," Stephenson said.

 

Hinsdale and Lanesborough both arrived on scene for assistance and Lenox, Dalton, and another crew from Lanesborough covered city stations. 

 

At the same time as firefighters worked on Highland Avenue, Stephenson said another fire call came in. At that scene, a mattress had caught on fire and an off-duty firefighter who lived in the neighborhood was able to drag it out of the home, preventing a structure fire there.

Cases heard before Judge Maureen Hogan on Friday, May 11.

 

Akeem Anderson, 22, of Springfield had a not guilty plea entered on his behalf on a single count of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute.

 

He was released on $500 bail. The charge stems from a motor vehicle stop in Pittsfield on January 31, 2018.

 

Cases heard before Judge Maureen Hogan on Monday, May 14.

 

Stephen Hyland, 34, of Otis was found guilty by a jury on single counts of rape of a child, intimidation of a witness, and open and gross lewdness.

 

He was ordered to be held without bail until sentencing. The incidents occurred in 2011.

 

On May 24, Hyland was sentenced to seven to nine years at the Massachusetts Correctional Institution at  Cedar  Junction on the rape of a child charge. He was given five year's probation on the other charges.

 

Joshua Honiker, 30, of Lee pleaded guilty to single counts of possession of heroin with intent to distribute, armed career felon, illegal ownership of a firearm, and possession of cocaine - his second offense.

 

He was ordered to serve concurrent three to four years at the Massachusetts Correctional Institution at Cedar  Junction on the heroin and armed career felon charges. He was given a one-year sentence at the Berkshire County House of Correction on the cocaine charge. He was placed on one-year probation on the firearm charge.

 

The charges stem from a disturbance in Lee on September 5, 2017. A single count of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony was dismissed by the state.

 

Cases heard before Judge Maureen Hogan on Thursday, May 14.

 

Trisha Levesque, 39, of North Adams had not guilty pleas entered on her behalf on single counts of possession of heroin with intent to distribute and conspiracy to violate drug laws. She was released on personal recognizance. 

 

The charges stem from a motor vehicle stop in North Adams on April 2, 2018.

 

David Mackie, 38, of Pittsfield had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on single counts of possession of heroin with intent to distribute, possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, possession of oxycodone with intent to distribute, possession of clonazepam with intent to distribute, and possession of lorazepam with intent to distribute.

 

He was released on $1,000 bail. The charges stem from the execution of a search warrant at his home on January 8, 2018.

 

Robert Wayne Moore, 27, of North Adams had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on three counts of reckless endangerment of a child, two counts of conspiracy to violate drug laws, and single counts of trafficking in heroin, trafficking in cocaine, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, illegal ownership of a firearm, improper storage of a firearm, and possession of ammunition without a firearm identification card.

 

The charges stem from an investigation into illegal drug activity in Berkshire County and the execution of a search warrant at his home on March 6, 2018.

 

Cases heard before Judge Maureen Hogan on Monday, May 21.

 

Michael Boulais, 32, of Hinsdale entered not guilty pleas on single counts of murder, reckless endangerment of a child, and improper storage of a firearm. 

 

He was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction without bail. Boulais is accused of killing 24-year-old Kassedi Clark on April 13, 2018.

 

Jason Batchelor, 18, of Springfield had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on single counts of possession of heroin with intent to distribute, conspiracy to violate drug laws to wit: possession of heroin with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, illegal possession of a firearm, illegal possession of a loaded firearm, and  improper storage of a firearm. 

 

He was released on $500 bail. The charges stem from a motor vehicle stop, in Pittsfield, on January 31, 2018.

 

Eric Daigle, 39, of Pittsfield was found not guilty of 10 counts of rape of a child and three counts of assault and battery on a child under the age of 14. 

 

Daigle was accused of sexually assaulting a man, who is now 21 years old, in Pittsfield and Adams between January 1, 2007 and December 31, 2008.

 

Ryain Gregory, 24, of North Adams had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on single counts of trafficking in firearms, breaking and entering a motor vehicle in the nighttime, and larceny of a firearm.

 

He was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $700 bail. The incident is alleged to have occurred in North Adams on March 11, 2018.

 

Erik Torres, 19, of Springfield had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on single counts of trafficking in cocaine, possession of heroin with intent to distribute, and conspiracy to violate drug laws.

 

He was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $5,000 bail. The charges stem from the execution of a search warrant in Williamstown on March 14, 2018.

 

Angel Vasquez, 34, of North Adams had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on single counts of manufacturing cocaine, conspiracy to violate drug laws, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, illegal ownership of a firearm, and possession of ammunition without a firearm identification card. 

 

He was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $5,000 bail. The charges stem from the execution of a search warrant at his home on March 2, 2018.

 

Whitney Page Barber-English, 27, of North Adams had not guilty pleas entered on her behalf on three counts of reckless endangerment of a child, two counts of conspiracy to violate drug laws, and single counts of trafficking in heroin, trafficking in cocaine, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, illegal ownership of a firearm, improper storage of a firearm, and possession of ammunition without a firearm identification card.

 

The charges stem from an investigation into illegal drug activity in Berkshire County and the execution of a search warrant at her home on March 6, 2018.

 

Cases heard before Judge Maureen Hogan on Tuesday, May 22.

 

Shawn Parsons, 46, of North Adams had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on single counts of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute - his second offense - and possession of heroin - his second offense.

 

He was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $5,000 bail. The charges stem from the execution of a search warrant at his home on March 2, 2018.

 

Jonathan Sprowson, 22, of North Adams had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on two counts of conspiracy to violate drug laws, possession of heroin with intent to distribute, and possession of cocaine with intent to distribute. 

 

He was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $1,000 bail. The charges stem from the execution of a search warrant at his home on March 13, 2018.

 

Tariq Westbrook, 21, of North Adams had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on two counts of conspiracy to violate drug laws, and single counts of possession of heroin with intent to distribute, possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, illegal ownership of a firearm, improper storage of a firearm, and possession of ammunition without a firearm identification card.

 

He was ordered that he be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $20,000 bail. The charges stem from the execution of a search warrant at his home on March 13, 2018.

 

Cases heard before Judge Maureen Hogan on Wednesday, May 23.

 

Troy Fernandez, 28, of  Pittsfield had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on single counts of possession of heroin with intent to distribute, and possession of cocaine with intent to distribute. 

 

He was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $10,000 bail. The charges stem from an incident in Pittsfield on April 5, 2018.

 

Cases heard before Judge Maureen Hogan on Thursday, May 24.

 

Selvin Gonzalez-Castillo, 24, of Pittsfield pleaded guilty to single counts of armed assault with intent to murder and aggravated assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon. 

 

He was ordered to serve two years and 27 days of a two year and 28-day sentence at the Massachusetts Correctional Institution at Cedar Junction. 

 

Gonzalez-Castillo stabbed a 31-year-old man in Pittsfield on April 23, 2016.

WOODBURY, Vt. — A Connecticut pilot was killed Sunday after his aircraft crashed on Bald Mountain. 

 

State Police identified Ramsey Sampson Ah-Nee, 31, of Manchester, Conn., as the pilot and sole occupant of the 1975 Piper PA-34-200T. Ah-Nee was an experienced pilot with more than five years of aviation experience, according to State Police. 

 

Ah-Nee was flying from Burlington to Oxford, Conn., when the Federal Aviation Administration apprised State Police that the radar confirmation on the twin-engine aircraft had been lost near Bald Mountain at about 6 p.m. on Sunday.

 

The FAA provided last known coordinates and the flight plan. Search and rescue teams were activated consisting of State Police uniformed troopers and search and rescue personnel and state Fish and Wildlife wardens.

 

The downed aircraft was located a few minutes after 1 a.m. on Monday in the proximity of the location provided by the FAA. The crash location is approximately three miles off Route 9 in a heavily wooded area of Woodford.  The pilot was found deceased at the crash site.

 

Recovery personnel and State Police detectives went to the area to assess the scene and prepare for the pilot's removal. 

 

State Police Lt. Thomas Mozzer of the Shaftsbury barracks said state and local officials were working jointly with the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board to support and assist with the investigation and recovery efforts.

 

Ah-Nee was employed as a production readiness leader at Pratt & Whitney in Connecticut and previously worked for GE Aviation, according to his LinkedIn profile. He was a graduate of Texas A&M University and Embry Riddle.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Police Station was temporarily evacuated after a suspicious package was received in the mail.

 

Police say at 11:02 a.m. on Thursday a resident brought a package into the station. The building was immediately evacuated, and emergency operations were implemented.

 

"In a relatively short period of time, law enforcement was able to definitively determine the device was not a threat. This was further confirmed in collaboration with the Massachusetts State Police Bomb Squad and the Massachusetts Department of Fire Service Hazardous Materials Team. Shortly after this determination was made the public safety building was re-opened and police, fire, and dispatch personnel re-entered the building," North Adams Police wrote in a Facebook post.

 

"During the incident, the department of public safety maintained continuity of operations by transferring critical emergency services to another location."