Superior Court Briefs: March 28 - March 31

Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Monday, March 28.

Brandon Brown, 27, of Springfield pleaded guilty to furnishing a false name to a police officer.

Brown was ordered to serve a 321 day sentence at the Berkshire County House of Correction. One county of distribution of cocaine, a second offence, was dismissed by the state. The incident occurred in Pittsfield on May 12, 2010.

Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Wednesday, March 30.

Matthew Hadsell, 33, of Pittsfield had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on single counts of trafficking in cocaine, trafficking in oxycodone and trafficking in ecstacy.

Hadsell allegedly trafficked drugs in Pittsfield on Feb. 23. He will be held on $2,500 bail.

Jeremy Stanton, 25, of Pittsfield pled not guilty to an array of charges.

Stanton is being charged with trafficking in cocaine, trafficking in oxycodone, trafficking in ecstacy, two counts of conspiracy to violate drug laws, three counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, three counts of illegal possession of a firearm, three counts of possession of ammunition without a firearm identification card and three counts of improper storage of firearms.

The charges stem from the execution of six search warrants in Pittsfield on Feb. 23 and Stanton is being held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $200,000 bail.

Steven Signor, 24, of Pittsfield had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on single counts of trafficking in cocaine, trafficking in oxycodone, trafficking in ecstacy, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and drug violation within a school zone.

Signor allegedly conspired with others to traffick in drugs and was in possession of marijuana with intent to distribute when he was arrested in Pittsfield on Feb. 23. Signor is being held on $2,500 bail.

Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Thursday, March 31.

Robert M. MacDonald, 33, of Adams pleaded guilty to single counts of larceny, assault by means of a dangerous weapon, assault and battery and malicious destruction of personal property as a result of a robbery of Supreme Pizza and Wings in North Adams on June 28, 2010.

He was sentenced to two years at the Berkshire County House of Correction on the charges of assault and battery and malicious destruction of personal property. He was placed on three years probation on the other charges on the condition that he refrain from using drugs and alcohol, undergo drug and alcohol testing and receive substance abuse and mental health counseling.

Jose A. Morales, 34, of Springfield had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on single counts of trafficking in heroin and conspiracy to violate drug laws.
Morales will be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $50,000 cash or $500,000 surety bail. The charges stem from a motor vehicle stop in Richmond on Feb. 7.

David Ciepiela, 41, of Adams was found not guilty by a jury for single counts of burning a dwelling house, burning insured property with the intent to defraud and injuring a firefighter in the line of duty.

The jury deliberated for two hours on the charges that Ciepiela had set fire to his home on Phillips Hill in Adams on January 16, 2009.

Jerry Davis, 29, of Pittsfield had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf for two counts of intimidation of a witness or other person and two counts of threat to commit a crime, to wit: murder.

It is alleged that on Jan. 2 Davis intimidated and threatened two witnesses in a pending criminal case. He was released on personal recognizance and is being held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on a related case.