PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A city man is being held without bail after pleading not guilty to murder.

 

James Cromartie, 31, of Pittsfield had a not guilty plea entered on his behalf on the single count of murder. Judge John Agostini ordered that he be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction without bail.

 

Cromartie is accused of shooting and killing James Dominguez III on January 23, 2016. Dominguez was found dead in the early hours in the parking lot next to Lach's Lounge on Fenn Street. 

 

Police had responded to the area at 1:30 in the morning to find Dominguez had been shot in the head. He was transported to Berkshire Medical Center and was pronounced dead later that day.

 

More than a year and a half later, Cromartie was arrested for the crime. On Oct. 16 police arrested Cromartie on a warrant during a motor vehicle stop on Park Street.

 

Cromartie was also charged with possession of cocaine with intent to distribute. The district attorney's office said that he was in possession of cocaine when he was arrested.

Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Monday, November 6.

 

Denzel LaFayette, 20, of Springfield had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on two counts of rape and abuse of a child, two counts of assault and battery, and single counts of posing a child in a state of nudity, disseminating visual material of a child in a state of nudity, disseminating matter harmful to a minor, and possession of child pornography. 

 

He was released on $250 cash or $2,500 surety bail. The charges stem from incidents involving a 16-year-old girl in Pittsfield and North Adams between October 21, 2015 and March 30, 2017.

 

Anthony Robertson, 35, of Pittsfield had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on single counts of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute - his second offense - armed career felon, illegal possession of a large capacity feeding device, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, resisting arrest, illegal ownership of a firearm, possession of ammunition without a firearm identification card, and improper storage of a firearm.

 

He was released on $5,000 cash or surety bail. The charges stem from the execution of a search warrant on his home on August 25, 2017.

 

Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Tuesday, November 7.

 

Billy Joe Twing, 37, of Pittsfield pleaded guilty to single counts of trafficking in fentanyl, resisting arrest, failure to stop for a police officer, and operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license.

 

He was ordered to serve two and a half to three years at the Massachusetts Correctional Institution at Cedar Junction on the trafficking charge. He was given concurrent time at the Berkshire County House of Correction on the resisting arrest and operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license charges. The other charge was placed on file.

 

The charges stem from a motor vehicle stop in Pittsfield on March 26, 2016. Single counts of possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute - his second offense - and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute - his second offense - were dismissed by the state.

 

Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Wednesday, November 8.

 

Andrew Harding, 30, of Dalton had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on single counts of conspiracy to violate drug laws to wit: possession of heroin with intent to distribute; conspiracy to violate drug laws to wit: possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, and possession of cocaine.

 

He was released on $2,000 bail. The charges stem from a motor vehicle stop in Lenox on September 27, 2017.

 

Julianna Saez, 30, of Pittsfield had not guilty pleas entered on her behalf on two counts of possession of heroin with intent to distribute, two counts of conspiracy to violate drug laws to wit: possession of heroin with intent to distribute, two counts of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, two counts of conspiracy to violate drug laws to wit: possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, and single counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, illegal ownership of a firearm, improper storage of a firearm, possession of ammunition without a firearm identification card, and possession of phencyclidine.

 

She was released on $1,000 bail. The charges stem from a motor vehicle stop and the execution of a search warrant at her home on September 27, 2017.

 

Corey Walker, 22, of Pittsfield had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on single counts of possession of heroin with intent to distribute, drug violation in a school zone, and possession of ammunition without a firearm identification card.

 

He was released on $1,000 bail. The charges stem from the execution of a search warrant at his home on September 1, 2017.

 

Diane Wyand, 39, of Pittsfield pleaded guilty to a single count of possession of heroin.

 

He was placed on probation for six months. The charge stems from a motor vehicle stop in Pittsfield on February 10, 2017.

 

Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Thursday, November 9.

 

Megan Bates, 41, of Adams had a not guilty plea entered on her behalf on a single count of permitting bodily injury to a child.

 

She was released on personal recognizance. The alleged incident occurred in Adams on August 5, 2015 and involved a three-month-old boy.

 

Wesley Childers, 31, of Adams had a not guilty plea entered on his behalf on a single count of permitting bodily injury to a child.

 

He was released on personal recognizance. The alleged incident occurred in Adams on August 5, 2015 and involved a three-month-old boy.

 

Jennifer Rilla, 21, of North Adams pleaded guilty to a single count of possession of heroin.

 

The case was continued without a finding for six months. The charge stems from a motor vehicle stop in Pittsfield on February 10, 2017.

 

Sam Wassilie, 39, of Hudson, N.Y. was found guilty on 10 counts of videotaping persons nude or partially nude, and five counts of videotaping sexual parts of children under the age of 18.

 

He was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction without the right to bail pending sentencing. Wassilie installed a video recording device in a public restroom at Pinegrove Park in Dalton between September 14, 2014 and October 26, 2014.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Police found a pellet gun behind Taconic High School after reports that a student had brought a weapon to school.

 

Police said that on Tuesday the school officials and the Police Department's School Resource Officers were told that a student had seen another with a handgun. The suspected student was located and a search of a backpack did not result in finding a weapon.

 

On Wednesday, however, more information was reported supporting the student's claim of seeing a gun. Police reviewed surveillance footage and found the original incident was "misreported." Officer John Gray continued the investigation, finding additional witnesses.

 

On Thursday, Police called in the K9 unit to search behind the school. There Police found an air-powered pellet pistol. 

 

Police say criminal charges could be pending.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — A motorist who lost conscious while driving on Union Street Friday morning was revived and taken by ambulance to the hospital. 

 

Police said the woman smashed into a guardrail on Beaver Street and then continued west onto Union Street, where her late model silver Camry sedan hopped the curbing and scraped against about 20 feet of guardrail before coming to a stop. 

 

The accident occurred just east of the Eclipse Mill, after the curve on Union Street past Gallup, around 11 a.m. The front passenger side of the vehicle was heavily damaged. 

 

The woman was alone in the vehicle and it's unknown if a medical condition caused her to pass out. The accident is under investigation. 

 

Union Street was closed between Gallup and Miner streets for nearly an hour; the Fire Department and Clarksburg Police also responded. Mohawk Auto took the car away. 

Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Monday, October 30.

 

Steven Winters, 34, of Lenox pleaded guilty to eight counts of distribution of heroin and two counts of conspiracy to violate drug laws.

 

He was ordered to serve concurrent two and a half years at the Berkshire County House of Correction. Winters sold heroin and conspired with others to sell heroin in Lenox between November 8, 2016 and March 5, 2017.

 

Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Wednesday, November 1.

 

Alexis Lopez, 24, of Pittsfield had seven counts of assault and battery on a disabled person, six counts of caretaker abuse on a disabled person, and a single count of assault and battery causing serious bodily injury continued without a finding for one year.

 

Lopez was accused of assaulting five students while employed at Eagleton School between January 1, 2015 and January 28, 2016.