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Superior Court Briefs: Jan. 22
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Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Thursday, January 22.
Greg Meddaugh, 50, of Pittsfield pleaded guilty to a single count of assault relating to an incident in Pittsfield on November 27, 2013 and involved a 29-year-old woman. He also pleaded guilty to a single count of assault and battery on a disabled person in connection to an incident on September 18, 2013 on a 53-year-old woman.
He was ordered to serve concurrent 417-day sentences at the Berkshire County House of Correction.
Mark Winters, 50, of Williamstown pleaded guilty to four counts of indecent assault and battery on a person who has attained age 14.
He was placed on two-years probation. The incidents occurred in Williamstown on May 7, 2012 and on May 8, 2012 and involved a 23-year-old woman. Two counts of rape were dismissed by the state.
Superior Court Briefs: Jan. 12 - Jan. 15
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Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Monday, January 12.
James Miller, 47, of North Adams had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on four counts of indecent assault and battery on a person who has attained age 14.
He was released on personal recognizance. The incidents allegedly occurred in North Adams between November 4, 2013 and December 25, 2013. The alleged victim was a 23-year-old woman.
Christopher LaFrance, 25, of Williamstown pleaded not guilty to 21 counts of possession of a large capacity feeding device and single counts of carrying a firearm on school grounds, carrying a firearm while intoxicated, resisting arrest and disturbing the peace.
He was released on personal recognizance. The incident allegedly occurred at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts on October 28, 2014.
William Knapp Jr., 38, of Adams had a not guilty plea of rape.
He was released on personal recognizance. The incident allegedly occurred on November 27, 2013 and involved a 37-year-old woman.
Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Wednesday, January 14.
Brandon Green, 22, of Pittsfield pleaded guilty to single counts of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute conspiracy to violate drug laws to wit: possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, and conspiracy to violate drug laws to wit: possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.
He was ordered to serve concurrent 350 day sentences at the Berkshire County House of Correction. The charges stem from the execution of a search warrant on Springside Avenue in Pittsfield on January 29, 2014.
Nakiba Browne, 30, of Pittsfield had a not guilty plea entered on his behalf on a single count of manufacturing cocaine - his second offense.
He was released on personal recognition. The charge stems from the execution of a search warrant at his home on September 19, 2014.
Tony Babcock, 26, of Pittsfield was sentenced to four to eight years at he Massachusetts Correctional Institution at Cedar Junction on the charge of armed assault with intent to murder. He was given concurrent two to four years on a single count of aggravated assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon.
A jury found Babcock guilty on January 9, 2014 of stabbing a 29-year-old man in Pittsfield on October 24, 2013.
Cases heard before Judge William Rota on Thursday, January 15.
William Jolin, 48, of Hoosick Falls, N.Y. was found not guilty by a jury of three counts of rape and abuse of a child aggravated by a age difference.
Jolin was accused of sexually assaulting a girl who is now 18 in Williamstown between July 1, 2012 and August 26, 2012.
James Tarjick Jr., 42, of Becket had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on seven counts of receiving stolen property over $250 and a single count of common receiver of stolen goods.
He was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $10,000 cash or $100,000 surety bail.
Tarjick Jr. is accused of at least 80 housebreaks over the last few years.
Nancy Tarjick, 60, of Windsor had not guilty pleas entered on her behalf on seven counts of receiving stolen property over $250 and a single count of receiving stolen property under $250.
She was released on personal recognizance. She is accused of being in possession of items taken from home breaks over the last several years.
James Tarjick Sr., 61, of Windsor had not guilty pleas entered on her behalf on seven counts of receiving stolen property over $250 and a single count of receiving stolen property under $250.
He was released on personal recognizance. He is accused of being in possession of items taken from home breaks over the last several years.
Police expect to file additional criminal charges.
Superior Court Briefs: Dec. 22 - Jan. 9
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Cases heard before Judge Daniel Ford on Monday, December 22.
Wayne Ovitt, Sr., 74, of Pittsfield had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on two counts of rape of a child with force, two counts and indecent assault and battery on a child under the age of 14, and single counts of open and gross lewdness and intimidation of a witness.
He was released on personal recognizance on the condition that he wear a GPS monitor. The incidents allegedly occurred in Pittsfield on October 24, 2014 and involved a 7-year-old girl.
Tricia Reynolds, 29, of Pittsfield had not guilty pleas entered on her behalf on single counts of possession of heroin with intent to distribute - her second offense - possession of cocaine and trespassing.
She was released on $2,500 bail. The charges stem from an incident in Pittsfield on November 6, 2014.
Cases heard before Judge Daniel Ford on Tuesday, December 23.
Rickey Williams, 34, of Bronx, N.Y. had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on two counts of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute - his second offense - and single counts of possession of heroin with intent to distribute - his second offense - and operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license.
He was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $10,000 cash or $100,000 surety bail. The charges stem from a motor vehicle stop in Pittsfield on November 20, 2014.
Peter Campbell, 28, of Pittsfield entered not guilty please to two counts of armed assault with intent to rob, and single counts of second degree murder, possession of a handgun during the commission of a felony and illegal possession of a firearm.
He was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction without bail. Campbell is accused of shoot 29-year-old Anthony Gamache in the Big Y parking lot in Pittsfield on November 18, 2014. Gamache died the next day and the state's chief medical examiner determined he died because of a blood clot caused by the gunshot wound.
Eric Cohen, 55, of New Marlborough had a not guilty plea entered on his behalf on one count of rape and abuse of a child.
He was released on personal recognizance because he is being help on their charges. Cohen is accused of assaulting a 16-year-old girl in New Marlborough between May 1, 2013 and September 30, 2013.
Cases heard before Judge Daniel Ford on Monday, December 29.
Nathaniel Robinson, 45, of Queens, N.Y. pleaded guilty to a single count of conspiracy to violate drug laws.
He was ordered to serve two days at the Berkshire County House of Correction. The charge stems from a motor vehicle stop on May 8, 2013. A single count of trafficking in oxycodone was dismissed by the state.
Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Monday, January 5.
Jason Deines, 24, of Pittsfield pleaded guilty to single counts of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute and possession of heroin.
He was ordered to serve two and a half to three years at the Massachusetts Correctional Institution at Cedar Junction on the cocaine charge and given concurrent time at the Berkshire County House of Correction on the heroin charge. The charges stem from a motor vehicle stop in Pittsfield on October 21, 2014.
Joseph Manning, 48, of Pittsfield pleaded guilty to a single count of larceny under $250.
He was ordered to serve 153 days at the Berkshire County House of Correction. The charge was in connection with the theft of money from a 41-year-old woman in Pittsfield on January 6, 2014.
Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Friday, January 9.
Chris Babcock, 26, of Pittsfield was found guilty of single counts of armed assault with intent to murder and aggravated assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon.
He was ordered to be held without the right to bail at the Berkshire County House of Corrections pending sentencing. Babcock stabbed a 29-year-old man in Pittsfield on October 24, 2013.
Williamstown Garage Fire Snuffed Out
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The garage was destroyed but firefighters prevented the flames from damaging the attached home. |
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Firefighters kept a garage fire from expanding to the attached Henderson Road home on Tuesday.
According to Fire Chief Craig Pedercini, no one was injured in the afternoon blaze and mutual aid was called in from Pownal, Vt. and Clarksburg.
Firefighters arrived to a fully involved structure fire and were able to knock it down quickly using Class A foam. The garage was destroyed but they were able to stop the flames from spreading to the attached home.
"We got called for a structure fire at 924 Henderson Road and while we were enroute here, we learned it was a garage fire and it was attached to house," Pedercini.
"When we arrived here it was a pretty full involvement of the garage. We called in mutual aid from Pownal (Vt.) and Clarksburg."
Firefighters drew water from a pond near the property after using more than 2,000 gallons of water in the initial response. The home is the last one on the road.
"Establishing our water supply at the pond was very important," Pedercini said.
There are two adults and four or five children living in the home, Pedercini, and all escaped the structure. According to land records, the home is owned by James and Judith Turgeon.
The chief said there was heavy fire on the right side of the garage, which was the side closest to the house, and stopping the fire from spreading was the first priority.
"Initially we only had three, four, five of us to start the initial attack. But once [more] get here and you get mutual aid, you have a lot of good resources and [the firefighters are] doing a good job," the chief said.
He added, "The house looks pretty much untouched."
Pedercini said the owner had a wood burning stove in the garage, which could have caused the fire, but a state fire marshall will be on scene to determine the cause later. He said he isn't sure if the home owner has another source of heating.
Being a garage fire, Pedercini said firefighters also had to identify and find such hazards as a propane tank for a gas grill and pulled a tank from the blaze before it harmed anybody.
"That is a grave concern when firefighters are up close and pulling things apart," Pedercini said.
Readsboro Rollover Blamed on Slick Roads, Speed
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READSBORO, Vt. — A Florida, Mass., man was able to walk away uninjured after his sport utility vehicle rolled over on Saturday evening.
Cody Laframboise, 19, told state police he was southbound in his 2004 Dodge Durango on Route 8, heading for Route 100, when the rear end of his vehicle lost traction, spinning the vehicle into the opposite lane.
When the rear wheels caught traction again, they sent the vehicle spinning back into its lane. Laframboise told state police he could not gain control of the vehicle. It veered off the southbound lane, went over an embankment and rolled onto its roof.
The accident occurred about 6 p.m. Trooper Justin Walker responded to the scene near the Readsboro and Searsburg town line.
Laframboise was not injured. The SUV incurred heavy damage to the passenger side and is considered totaled.
The road conditions were slippery, with a thin layer of slush and ice. Walker found that both road conditions and speed were a factor in the crash, which is still under investigation.
