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Superior Court Briefs: Feb. 29 - March 11
Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Monday, Feb. 29.
Bruce Daniels, 47, of Pittsfield had a not guilty plea entered on his behalf on a single count of rape of a child with force.
He was released on personal recognizance. Daniels is accused of sexually assaulting a boy who is now age 17 between October 1, 2012 and October 31, 2012.
Heidi Bliss, 35, of Pittsfield had not guilty pleas entered on her behalf on single counts of accessory after the fact to wit: armed robbery while masked, and misleading a police officer or other person.
The charges are in connection with a robbery in Pittsfield on January 24, 2016. She was released on $1,000 bail.
Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Tuesday, March 1.
Naim Moore, 37, of Brooklyn, N.Y. pleaded guilty to single counts of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, conspiracy to violate drug laws, and possession of methylenedioxy-n-ethylcathinone with intent to distribute.
He was ordered to serve two and a half years at the Berkshire County House of Correction on the possession of cocaine charge. He was given a one-year sentence to be served after the first on the possession of methylenedioxy-n-ethylcathinone charge. And he was given concurrent time on the conspiracy charge. In total he will serve three and a half years at the Berkshire County House of Correction.
The charges stem from the execution of a search warrant at 119 Bracewell Avenue in North Adams on November 3, 2015. A single count of trafficking in a class B substance was dismissed by the state.
Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Friday, March 4.
Emmet Harvin, 40, of New Ashford pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, two counts of illegal possession of a firearm, two counts of improper storage of a firearm, and single counts of trafficking in cocaine, trafficking in oxycodone, distribution of heroin - his second offense - conspiracy to violate drug laws, and possession of a firearm with prior offenses for violent crimes or serious drug offenses.
Harvin will be sentenced on June 3, 2016.
The charges stem from the execution of a search warrant at his New Ashford home on October 9, 2012.
Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Monday, March 7.
Anthony Johnson, 32, of Pittsfield pleaded guilty to five counts of distribution of cocaine, and single counts of possession of heroin with intent to distribute, possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, and conspiracy to violate drug laws.
He was ordered to serve two and a half to five years at the Massachusetts Correctional Institution at Cedar Junction. He will begin serving his sentence on March 28, 2016.
The incidents occurred in Pittsfield between June 29, 2011 and January 30, 2012.
Mark Ring, 53, of North Adams had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on two counts of intimidation of a witness or other person.
He was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $50,000 bail.
Ring is accused of intimidating a witness in a pending criminal matter on December 24, 2015 and on February 7, 2016.
Michael Cowan, 41, of Little Rock, Ark. had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on nine counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under the age of 14, and a single count of rape of a child with force.
He was released on personal recognizance. Cowan is accused of sexually assaulting a girl who is now age 14 in Lee between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2011.
Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Tuesday, March 8.
Alan Taylor, 36, of Adams pleaded guilty to single counts of burning a dwelling house and malicious destruction of personal property over $250.
He was ordered to be placed on three-years probation. Taylor set fire to the outside of a home at 115 Bradley Street in North Adams and damaged items inside on October 6, 2014.
Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Wednesday, March 9.
Kyle Bailey, 23, of Glendale pleaded guilty to single counts of motor vehicle homicide while under the influence of alcohol, operating under the influence of alcohol and operating negligently causing serious bodily injury, possession of an open container of alcohol in a motor vehicle, failure to stay within marked lanes, and speeding.
He was ordered to serve two and a half years at the Berkshire County House of Correction on the motor vehicle homicide charge. He was ordered to serve 18 months of a two and a half year sentence on the operating under the influence of alcohol and operating negligently charge. He was placed on three-years probation. In all he'll serve four years.
Bailey was the operator of a motor vehicle which struck a utility pole on East Street in Great Barrington on April 4, 2015. Garrett Norton, 21, of Housatonic died as a result of the crash and another 21-year-old man was injured.
Louis Ely Jr., 21, of Pittsfield pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to commit armed assault with intent to rob, two counts of conspiracy to commit assault by means of a dangerous weapon, and a single counts of conspiracy to commit armed robbery while masked.
He was ordered to serve one year of a two-year sentence at the Berkshire County House of Correction. He was also placed on two-years probation.
The charges stem from an incident in Great Barrington on August 20, 2014 and involved two me, ages 21 and 22.
A single count of conspiracy to commit kidnapping while being armed with a firearm was dismissed by the state.
Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Friday, March 11.
William Knapp Jr., 39, of Adams pleaded guilty to a single count of indecent assault and battery on a person who has attained age 14.
He was given a two-year suspended sentence at the Berkshire County House of Correction on placed on three-years probation. The charges are in connection with an incident in Adams involving a 38-year-old woman.
Pittsfield Police Investigating Home Invasion
PITTSFIELD, Mass. - Police are investing an armed home invasion on Maplewood Avenue.
Police say on Sunday, March 6 at about 10:20 p.m. dispatch received a call reporting the invasion. Four victims were said to have been inside the residence when three men entered the unsecured home with weapons. The men allegedly assaulted the residents, bounds their hands, and stole cash and personal property.
The suspects then fled on foot. The investigation is active and anyone with information is asked to call the detective bureau at 449-9705.
Pittsfield Youth Arrested On Charges Of Mayhem, Possession of Stun Gun
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — One juvenile was struck by a shovel. And another was arrested for assault and battery with a stun gun during a fight between two juveniles in the area of Cherry and Lincoln Streets Monday.
Police say at about 3:35 p.m. officers were dispatched to the area for a fight among two juveniles. Police say at first there were conflicting reports of an injured victim who was either stabbed or struck with a shovel.
The first responding officer found a victim with a severe facial injury from being struck by a shovel. Investigation developed probable cause for another juvenile for mayhem, possession of an electric stun gun, and assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon (an electric stun gun).
The juvenile was arrested and arraigned in Central Berkshire Juvenile Court on Tuesday while the other was transported to Berkshire Medical Center and has since been released.
Pittsfield Police Investigating Armed Robbery of Big Y Express
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Police are investigating an armed robbery of the Big Y Express on West Street.
Police say on Sunday Night at about 11:30 p.m. police responded to a report of the robbery; a clerk said the store was robbed by a man with a gun. There were two clerks working at the store at the time when the suspect, a white male described as 5-foot 7-inches tall with medium build and gray sweatshirt and gray sweatpants displayed a gun and demanded money.
Police said the clerks were not injured and the suspect fled with "an undisclosed amount of cash."
The incident is still under investigation and anyone with information is asked to contact the detective bureau at 413-448-9705.
Early Morning Fire Damages Merriam Street Residence
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A second floor porch of a Merriam Street home sustained extensive damage in an early morning fire on Monday.
The Pittsfield Fire Department responded to a reported structure fire at 75 Merriam St. at 3 a.m. Monday. Upon arrival, firefighters reported fire showing on the front porch of the second floor apartment but were quickly able to knock it down.
Minor damage was found on the inside of the second floor apartment and the building sustained minor water and smoke damage.
There were no injuries reported. The cause of the fire is undetermined.