Alleged Thieves Plead Not-guilty in Court

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A city man accused of armed robbery of La Fogata Restaurant and a Becket man accused of a series of break-ins both entered not guilty pleas in Berkshire Superior Court on Friday.

Michael Swenson III, 19, of Tyler street had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on one count of armed robbery while masked and two counts of assault by means of a dangerous weapon. He ordered to be help on $50,000 bail.

Swenson allegedly covered his face with a bandana and robbed the restaurant shortly after it closed last weekend with what was described as a black handgun. However, other reports stated that the gun that was used was a pellet gun. 

Michael Pieri, 25, of Becket entered not guilty pleas in Berkshire Superior Court on an array of charges.

Pieri is charged with 15 counts of breaking and entering in the nighttime, six counts of larceny over $250, 15 counts of malicious destruction of personal property over $250, eight counts of larceny in a building,  four counts of receiving stolen property over $250, and single counts of illegal ownership of a firearm, possession of ammunition with a firearm identification card, improper storage of a firearm and common and notorious thief.

Judge Daniel Ford released Pieri on personal recognizance.

The charges stem from a spree of house break-ins in Becket between November 23, 2010 and July 11, 2011.