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Superior Court Briefs: April 3
Cases heard before Judge Daniel Ford on Wednesday, April 3.
Craig Hill, 47, of Pittsfield pleaded guilty to a single count of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute.
He was sentenced to three to five years at the Massachusetts Correctional Institution at Cedar Junction. The charges stem from a motor vehicle stop in Pittsfield on Jan. 12.
Pittsfield Police Investigating Multiple Housebreaks
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Police are ask residents to safeguard their homes after several house break ins.
Police are investigation several breaks including two during the day on Monday. Residents are reporting that doors were forces open and valuable were stolen. At one home a Nintendo Wii with accessories were stolen, at another a St. Joseph Class of 1977 ring was stolen.
Other residents have reported similar incidents. A resident in the southeast section of the city found her front window broken and a 14K gold necklace with diamond pendant and a blue birthstone ring with two diamonds were stolen. Another resident reported that an iPad and Canon camera was stolen but there was no forced entry. At another home a window was broken on the side of the house from a screen porch and a silver and black iPod was stolen.
Police are advising residents to lock doors and first floor windows, invest in solid core doors with sturdy frames and good lock, keep shrubs trimmed back from windows, lock car doors and don't leave valuable in the car, keep an eye out for your neighbors, report suspicious activity or persons, consider an alarm or wireless home security system and call police if you discover your home has been broke into.
If anyone has any information regarding the break-ins are asked to call the detective bureau at 413-448-9705.
President of Enviro-Labs Faces Additional Charges
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — William Enser Jr., the president of Berkshire Enviro-Labs, was back in Superior Court on Tuesday facing new charges.
Enser previously pleaded not guilty to 15 counts of knowingly falsifying reports submitted to the state Department of Environmental Protection and 15 counts of willfully making false reports to MassDEP. He allegedly backdated drinking-water sample analysis to cover up misconduct and feign compliance with environmental laws.
He now faces an additional 14 counts of willfully making false reports to the MassDEP and another 14 counts of knowingly falsifying submitted reports, all of which he pleaded not guilty to in Berkshire Superior Court on Monday. The additional charges brings the total counts up to 58.
According to Attorney General Martha Coakley, Enser, 63, of Lee, continued to work at the lab through February 2013 and failed to submit required sampling that showed bacterial contamination in drinking water samples.
Enser allegedly hid samples that revealed contamination and instead took multiple samples and sent only passing results to the state. Authorities say that in one instance in October 2012, Enser directed an employee to report a drinking water sample which had come from the tap in the Enviro-Labs’ office instead of the public water source.
The lab's certification for testing samples has been revoked by the state.
"These additional charges allege that this defendant failed to submit water sample analysis that showed bacterial contamination to the MassDEP," Coakley said in a press release issued on Tuesday. "He is now prohibited from being involved in the operation of the company and is no longer able to tamper with water testing reports and potentially put people at risk."
After the first arraignment, Enser was prohibited by the court to act as the drinking water system operator, take drinking water samples, conducting water testing or reporting water data. But, he remained active with the company and Judge Daniel Ford ordered receivership of Enviro-Labs. Enser is prohibited from being involved in the company in any way.
"The Environmental Strike Force's continued investigation into the activities of Mr. Enser, who has already been indicted for falsifying drinking water reports, has now revealed evidence of additional fraud," said Commissioner Kenneth Kimmell of MassDEP. "MassDEP is committed to upholding the integrity and the safety of drinking water programs across the Commonwealth."
The investigation began in September 2012. Enser is due back in court in June.
Pittsfield Police Seeking Suspect in Bank Robbery
Pittsfield Co-op's Dalton Avenue branch was closed Monday afternoon after it was robbed. Above, the suspect in the robbery captured by cameras leaving the scene. |
UPDATE: Tuesday, April 2, 2013: Police have released photos of the suspect.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Pittsfield Police Detective Bureau at 413-448-9705.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Police are searching for a suspect in the robbery of Pittsfield Cooperative Bank's 110 Dalton Ave. branch.
According to Pittsfield Police, the robbery occurred at about 1 p.m. when a man passed a note to a teller. Police say no weapon was shown but they have not revealed the contents of the note.
An undisclosed amount of cash was taken and the suspect left on foot on Dartmouth Street.
Police Chief Michael Wynn said no one was injured in the incident.
"In a very quick period of time, patrol responded, had good information, description information," he told the Police Advisory Board on Monday evening. "K-9 tracked to an adjoinng street where the suspect, they believe, got into a car."
The suspect is described as a white man, in his late 30s to mid-40s, approximately 5-feet-8 and weighing between 200 and 210 pounds. He was wearing a yellow "Pelle Pelle" T-shirt, tan cap and black rectangular-frame glasses.
The Detective Bureau is reviewing video from the bank and adjoining businesses.
If anyone has information, call the Pittsfield Police Detective Bureau at 413-448-9705.
Superior Court Briefs: March 25 - March 28.
Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Monday, March 25.
Kevin White, 45, of Pittsfield pleaded guilty to single counts of breaking and entering in the daytime and larceny over $250.
He was placed on one year probation and ordered to pay $1,500 in restitution. White broke into a home in Hancock on September 7, 2011.
Danielle Kenyon, 50, of Pittsfield pleaded guilty to five counts of armed robbery while masked.
She was ordered to serve eight to 10 years at the Massachusetts Correctional Institution at Cedar Junction.
Kenyon took money from the Getty Gas Station on February 5, 2012, Angelina's Sub Shop on February 18, 2013, Palmer's Variety Store on February 21, 2012 and Lipton Mark on February 25, 2012. All incidents were in Pittsfield.
Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Tuesday, March 26.
Anthony Teti Jr., 31, of Pittsfield pleaded guilty to 21 counts of misuse of a credit card, 20 counts of fraudulent use of a credit car, 17 counts of uttering a false document, 16 counts of forgery of a document, four counts of receiving stolen property over $250, four counts of identity fraud, four counts of larceny from a building, three counts of larceny over $250 from a person over age 60, two counts of attempt to commit a crime to wit: fraudulent use of a credit card, two counts of larceny under $250 from a person over the age of 60 and single counts of forgery of a check, uttering a false check, operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license, breaking and entering in the daytime, breaking and entering a motor vehicle in the daytime, larceny under $250 and common and notorious thief.
He was sentenced to concurrent three to five years at the Massachusetts Correctional Institution at Cedar Junction all charges except for three counts of identify fraud, two counts of larceny under $250 from a person over age 60, two counts of attempt to commit a crime, two counts of misuse of a credit card and single counts of breaking and entering a motor vehicle, larceny under $250 and operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license.
He was sentenced to serve concurrent sentences at the Berkshire County House of Corrections on those charges.
A single count of common and notorious thief was dismissed by the state. The incidents occurred in Pittsfield and Cheshire between April 5, 2012 and August 12, 2012.
Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Wednesday, March 27.
Christopher Harrison, 44, of Pittsfield had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on single counts of caretaker abuse or neglect of an elder and threat to commit a crime, to wit: murder.
He was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $5,000 cash or $50,000 surety bail.
Harrison allegedly failed to take care of a 67-year-old woman between January 1, 2012 and February 22, 2013. He also allegedly threatened to murder a 41-year-old woman between January 1, 2013 and February 22, 2013. Both incidents allegedly occurred in Pittsfield.
Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Thursday, March 28.
Martini Martin, 29, of Englewood, N.J. was sentenced to three to five years at the Massachusetts Correctional Institution at Cedar Junction after pleading guilty on November 7, 2012 to two counts of possession of Oxycontin with intent to distribute and two counts of conspiracy to violate drug laws.
Martin possessed Oxycontin with the intent to sell and conspired with others on April 2, 2010 and May 6, 2010.
Brenda Santos, 23, of Whitman pleaded guilty to a single count of unarmed robbery in connection with the theft of money from the Elm Street branch of Greylock Federal Credit Union on March 30, 2012.
She was placed on two years probation on the condition that Santos attend a six month residential drug treatment program.