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Pittsfield Man Arrested On Kidnapping Charges In New York
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NEW LEBANON, N.Y. — A Pittsfield, Mass. man was arrested for kidnapping by New York State Police on Thursday.
Police say Charles Tabon, 38, of Pittsfield, Mass. and Megan Vandeusen, 28, of New Lebanon, are both charged with kidnapping after allegedly holding a woman against her will in New Lebanon.
Police say troopers were dispatched to a home at about 12:50 a.m. for a report of a woman being held against her will. The investigation revealed that a woman was brought to the home from Pittsfield, Mass. and an altercation had taken place. The woman was allegedly "menaced with a handgun" and Tabon and Vendeusen were arrested.
Tabon is facing charges of kidnapping, criminal use of a firearm, criminal possession of a firearm, unlawful imprisonment, and menacing. Vandeusen is facing with kidnapping and unlawful imprisonment charges.
Both defendants were arraigned in the Town of Claverack Court and held in the Columbia County Jail without bail. They are scheduled to appear in New Lebanon Court on July 31.
Pittsfield Couple's Autopsies Show Trauma, Suicide
Updated: Wednesday, July 26, 2017 at 7 p.m.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Authorities have ruled that 39-year-old Celeste Kordana died from a blunt force trauma to the head. John Kordana, 53, died from asphyxiation and loss of blood from multiple superficial wounds.
John Kordana's injuries appear to be self-inflicted, according to District Attorney David Capeless' office. The autopsies were conducted on Wednesday by Associate Medical Examiner Robert Welton at the Holyoke Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
The couple was found dead inside their Harryel Street home on Monday afternoon after Police were asked to do a well-being check. Firefighters were called to force entry into the home at about 2:50 p.m.
The district attorney's office had said on Tuesday that there was no indication that a third party was involved.
The investigation is being conducted by members of the Pittsfield Police Department with the assistance of State Police Detectives assigned to the Berkshire District Attorney’s Office and troopers assigned to the Crime Scene Services Section.
Updated: Tuesday, July 25, 2017 at 4:45 p.m.
An autopsy has been scheduled for Wednesday morning. At this point, police say there is nothing to suggest a third party was involved in the death. But, authorities say all possibilities are still being considered as police continue investigating the circumstances.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Police are investing the deaths of a city couple.
Police say the bodies of John and Celeste Kordana, 53 and 39, respectively, were found in their Harryel Street home on Monday.
The bodies are being transferred to the Holyoke Office of the Chief Medical Examiner to determine the cause of death, though the autopsies have not been scheduled.
According to the district attorney's office, officers were called to do a well-being check on the pair and upon arrival were unable to get into the home. At about 2:50 p.m., the Fire Department forced entry into the home, where the bodies were found.
The investigation is being conducted by members of the Pittsfield Police Department, state police assigned to the district attorney's office, and troopers from the Crime Scene Services Section.
Williamstown, North Adams Police Seek Reports of Stolen Jewelry
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WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Police are asking area residents to report recent losses of jewelry that may be connected to a North Adams woman who was arraigned on Wednesday.
Jessica Morgan, 30, of Gregory Avenue, was arraigned in Northern Berkshire District Court on one count of larceny over $250, Williamstown Police reported on Wednesday.
"On July 3, 2017, a Williamstown resident contacted the police department to report a significant amount of jewelry missing from her residence," the police news release read. "A subsequent investigation revealed that Morgan worked as a home health care worker in this home. It was later determined that jewelry matching the same description was pawned by Morgan.
"Unfortunately, a significant amount of the jewelry was later transferred and melted down prior to it being discovered missing."
Williamstown Police questioned Morgan in connection with the case, police said.
"This investigation prompted the report of similar larcenies from other area residences where Morgan worked," the police news release read. "A large amount of jewelry and property remain missing. The [Williamstown Police Department] is seeking public assistance with any additional reports or information regarding Jessica Morgan or missing or found jewelry."
Police ask anyone with information to contact either Sgt. Scott McGowan of the Williamstown Police at 413-458-5733 or Officer Josh Zustra of the North Adams Police at 413-664-4944.
"At this time, the investigation is continuing and at the conclusion, further criminal charges will be filed," McGowan said on Wednesday. "The majority of these crimes appear to be from April through July of 2017. However, I am also looking back as far as January of 2015."
Pittsfield Police Investigating Stabbing On Dalton Avenue
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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Two individuals were stabbed Tuesday night on Dalton Avenue.
Police say at about 9:44 p.m. officers responded to 42 Dalton Avenue for reports of the stabbings. They found two victims outside the home.
At the same time, dispatch received another call regarding a fight on the nearby Harvard Street and officers there found another individual with a laceration to one of his fingers. All three individuals were transported to Berkshire Medical Center and treated for non-life threatening injuries.
The incident is under investigation but police say both incidents were connected.
Superior Court Briefs: July 17 - July 20
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Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Monday, July 17.
Stephanie Bullett, 31, of Pittsfield pleaded guilty to a single count of possession of heroin with intent to distribute.
She was ordered to serve one year at the Berkshire County House of Correction. The charges stem from the execution of a search warrant in Pittsfield on October 9, 2015.
A single count of conspiracy to violate drug laws was dismissed by the state.
Michael Taylor, 57, of Pittsfield pleaded guilty to single counts of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, possession of oxycodone with intent to distribute, possession of heroin, and resisting arrest in connection with an incident in Pittsfield on June 6, 2016.
He also pleaded guilty to single counts of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, illegal possession of a firearm, and illegal possession of a loaded firearm relating to an incident in Pittsfield on July 11, 2016.
He was ordered to serve four to six years at the Massachusetts Correctional Institution at Cedar Junction on the possession of cocaine and possession of oxycodone charges. He was given concurrent time at the Berkshire County House of Correction on the other charges.
Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Wednesday, July 19.
Jeanne Rivera, 51, of Pittsfield had a not guilty plea entered on her behalf on a single count of larceny over $250 from a person age 60 or older.
She was released on personal recognizance. Rivera allegedly took approximately $27,000 from a 90-year-old man in Dalton between June 1, 2015, and October 30, 3016.
David Sumner, 26, of Pittsfield pleaded guilty to single counts of trafficking in cocaine, armed career felon, illegal ownership of a firearm, possession of ammunition without a firearm identification card, and possession of counterfeit notes.
He was ordered to serve concurrent seven to nine years at the Massachusetts Correctional Institution at Cedar Junction on the cocaine and armed career felon charges. He was given concurrent four and a half to five years on the possession of counterfeit notes, and given concurrent time at the Berkshire County House of Correction on the other charges.
The charges stem from the execution of a search warrant on Hamlin Street in Pittsfield on October 19, 2016. A single count of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony was dismissed by the state.
Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Friday, July 20.
Gregory Thompson, 37, of Pittsfield pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute.
He was ordered to serve concurrent three to four years at the Massachusetts Correctional Institution at Cedar Junction. The charges stem from the execution of a search warrant on Memorial Drive in Pittsfield on August 27, 2015 and then a motor vehicle stop in Pittsfield on November 16, 2015.
