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Superior Court Briefs: October 26 - October 27
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Daniel Knight, 26, of Pittsfield had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on 23 counts of breaking and entering in the nighttime, 20 counts of malicious destruction of personal property under $250, seven counts of carrying a dangerous weapon, seven counts of illegal possession of a firearm, two counts of breaking into a depository, two counts of larceny from a building and single counts of receiving or possessing a stolen motor vehicle, larceny over $250, vandalizing property, common and notorious thief and armed career felon.
Knight was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $2,500 cash or $25,000 surety bail. The charges stem from a series of break-ins in Pittsfield between June 1 and Sept. 13.
William Parmelee IV, 31, of Pittsfield pleaded guilty to four counts of breaking and entering a motor vehicle in the daytime, four counts of larceny over $250, ten counts of larceny under $250, four counts of larceny of a credit card, two counts of improper used of a credit card over $250, and single counts of breaking and entering a motor vehicle in the night time and common and notorious thief.
Parmelee was sentences to concurrent two-year sentences at the Berkshire Count House of Correction on all charged except the common and notorious thief. He was placed on three-years probation on that charge. He was also ordered to pay $2,267 in restitution to the victims.
Parmelee broke into and stole credit cards from five vehicles in Pittsfield and Lanesborough between July 18, 2010 and July 28, 2010. Eight counts of attempt to commit a crime were dismissed by the state.
Bernadette Burdick, 55, of North Adams was sentenced to nine months at the Berkshire County House of Correction on a single count of burning a dwelling house and placed on two-years probation on one count of burning personal property after she had pleaded guilty to the charges on Sept. 1.
Burdick set fire to her Liberty Street apartment in North Adams on August 30, 2008 that damaged items belonging to family members.
Justin Steele, 31, of Lee had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on single counts of armed home invasion, assault with a dangerous weapon and assault and batter.
Steele was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $100,000 bail.
It is alleged that Steele broke into a Linden Street home in Pittsfield and assaulted the occupants on Sept. 12.
Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Thursday, October 27
Daniel Delsonno Jr., 49, of Pittsfield pleaded guilty to single counts of forgery, uttering and attempt to commit a crime, to wit: larceny over $250 as well as a subsequent single count of intimidation of a witness.
Delsonno was sentenced to concurrent three to six years state prison sentences at the Massachusetts Correctional Institution at Cedar Junction on the forgery, uttering and attempt to commit a crime charges and a concurrent three to five year state prison sentenced on the intimidation charges.
Single counts of breaking and entering in the day time, larceny from a building, attempt to commit murder, assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon and threat to commit murder were dismissed by the state. The uttering, forgery and attempt to commit a crime was in connection to an incident in Pittsfield on June 25, 2009 and the intimidation of a witness charge was in connection to an incident in Pittsfield on August 8, 2009.
Jeremy Gomes, 25, had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on single counts of mayhem, assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon and breaking and entering a motor vehicle in the night time.
Gomes was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $5,000 bail. The incident allegedly occurred in Pittsfield on Sept. 10 and involved an 18-year-old man.
Dominic Simonetta, 38, of Pittsfield had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on four counts of assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon, three counts of assault and battery and single counts of kidnapping, assault by means of a dangerous weapon, intimidation of a witness, threat to commit a crime, to wit murder, and assault with intent to murder.
Simonetta was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $500,000 cash or $5 million surety bail. The incidents allegedly occurred in Pittsfield between Oct. 2 and Oct. 6 and involved at 41-year-old woman.
North Adams Police Charge Former Rink Manager With Theft
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Katherine Wilk, 27, of Adams was arraigned on charges of larceny more than $250 on Friday in Northern Berkshire District Court for allegedly taking cash from the rink's receipts.
Wilk was terminated this past spring after an administrative investigation. According to court documents, Public Safety Commissioner E. John Morocco was notified by the city's Office of Community Development on July 29 that more than $22,000 was missing from fiscal years 2010 and 2011.
Police interviewed two rink employees, who both told police that they had seen Wilk take $40 in cash from the rink on two separate occasions — once from receipts and once from the skate shop, according to court documents. According to police, Wilk admitted in an interview on Sept. 19 to taking about $500 in cash but claimed she had always returned the amounts. However, police said she could not provide documentation that the money had been returned.
Wilk refused to let the interview be recorded and refused to provide a written statement admitting to taking the money, according to court documents. A pre-trial hearing has been scheduled for Nov. 22.
If convicted, Wilk could face up five years in prison or up to two years in jail and a fine of not more than $25,000.
Firefighters Rescue Woman From Burning House
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 Firefighters found Patricia Siciliano hanging from the window from bed sheets while staying on the phone with dispatchers. |
According to Fire Director Steve Meranti, firefighters responded about 10 p.m. to 176 Ashton Ave., where the blaze had trapped Patricia Siciliano inside her bedroom.
When they arrived, Siciliano was hanging out of the second-story window from bed sheets that she tied to her bed while still on the phone with dispatcher Amanda Cornellier. Acting Lt. Scott Barbeau and Ray King then rescued the woman in what Meranti called a "textbook operation."
"The first priority was rescue," Meranti said on Friday. "The dispatcher kept her on the phone... it was an excellent job on her part."
Siciliano was the only person inside the home at the time and was rescued just seven minutes after the initial call, Meranti said. She was then transported to Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield to be treated for smoke inhalation. He condition is currently unknown.
But Siciliano was not the only one rescued from the fire. Firefighters Shaun Hayden and John Marlow rescued Siciliano's cat. The cat was taken to Greylock Animal Hospital and is reportedly doing fine, Meranti said. There were no other injuries.
The fire started in the lower portion of the attic and spread to an upper level. Firefighters ran a hose to the second floor and tore off the roof to get access. The fire was under control in about 30 minutes, Meranti said.
"The fire appears to be electrical in nature," Meranti said. "[Siciliano] was alerted by a crackling sound in the walls."
Berkshire Gas, National Grid and the city's wire and alarm division disconnected power and the Clarksburg Fire Department provided an air truck. The house suffered massive damage but is still structurally sound, Meranti said. Siciliano does have homeowners insurance, he said.
"The guys did a great job on this," Meranti said. "It was a great job by all."
Former Pittsfield-based Pharmacist Sentenced For Stealing Pills
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Nichole Bombardier, 31, of Cheshire pleaded guilty to tampering with consumer products charges in federal court in March 2010. Prosecutors claim Bombardier stole at least 239 OxyContin from three different bottles from the Pittsfield Price Chopper pharmacy between May and September of 2008. At least one customer was hospitalized after taking medication used to treat high blood pressure instead of the painkiller.
Bombardier was also sentenced earlier in the week to repay $15,500 in fines and restitution to her former employer and patient.
North Adams Police Seeking Information On Wanted Man
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McDonald was last seen in the area of Furnace Street but police have not released the reason why he is wanted. Police are asking residents not to approach the person and if he is seen to contact the North Adams Police station at 413-664-4944. If a resident spots him outside of North Adams, contact that police in that municipality.
Any other information can be emailed to NAPDTips@northadams-ma.gov.
