Debra Milesi was sentenced on Wednesday to serve four to five years in state prison and four years probation by Judge John Agostini. The 60-year-old Adams woman had been found guilty by a jury on March 10 of motor vehicle homicide in the 2018 death of Jerome Berard. 

 

The Berkshire District Attorney's Office requested a sentence of three to five years on the motor vehicle homicide charge and 2 1/2 to three years on the leaving the scene of a personal injury accident death resulting charge for a total of 5 1/2 to eight years in state prison. The negligent operation charge is included in the motor vehicle homicide charge.

 

Defense counsel requested a 2 1/2-year sentence on the motor vehicle homicide charge and a concurrent one-year sentence on the leaving the scene of a person injury accident charge.

 

The state sentencing recommendations call for 40 to 60 months for the motor vehicle homicide and the leaving the scene charge carries a mandatory sentence of 2 1/2 years.

 

"My heart goes out to the Berard family, who will continually mourn their loss and I hope this brings them a sense of satisfaction. Jeremy's death was avoidable and this conviction holds the person responsible accountable," District Attorney Andrea Harrington said. "I thank the Adams and State Police for their investigation into this tragic night and the jury for their diligent review of the evidence."

---

Original post on guilty finding published March 10, 2022, at 1:52 p.m.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — An Adams woman has been found guilty of motor vehicle homicide in the 2018 death of Jerome Berard. 

 

A Berkshire Superior Court jury found Debra Milesi, 60, guilty on Thursday of motor vehicle homicide while under the influence of alcohol and operating negligently, leaving the scene of a personal injury accident with death resulting, and negligent operation of a motor vehicle.

 

The verdict came after a five-day trial. Judge John Agostini scheduled sentencing for Friday, March 25.

 

In the early hours of Sept. 29, 2018, Milesi hit the then 38-year-old Berard, who was standing outside of his vehicle on East Hoosac Street in Adams, with her car. 

 

Berard, of North Adams, was found laying on the side of East Hoosac Street in Adams around 1:30 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 29, 2018. He had incurred severe injuries including broken limbs and head trauma. He was taken to Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield and died there a week later, on Oct. 7.

 

Milesi had driven away before Adams Police stopped her; Berard was found by an officer coming to assist in Milesi's traffic stop. 

 

Adams Police and State Police investigation units responded to the scene. 

 

Berard left two children, who were 10 and 17 at the time, and a fiancée. He was a graduate of McCann Technical School and was employed by Whitman Crystal Cleaning at the time of his death.

 

"Jerome Berard's death was a terrible loss to his family, friends and community. I hope this conviction provides some satisfaction for his loved ones. I thank Adams and State Police for their thorough investigation and I thank the jury for hearing the evidence and rendering a just verdict," District Attorney Andrea Harrington said. "This conviction holds the person responsible for Mr. Berard's death accountable for her decision to drive after drinking."