Superior Court Briefs: March 21

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Earehart Arraigned on 2 Counts of Rape
 
On March 18 James Earehart, age 55 of Indiana, was arraigned in Berkshire Superior Court. 
 
The Defendant was arraigned on two counts of Rape stemming from a June 16, 2022, offense.The alleged rape occurred at a camp located at 53 Brookside Road, Great Barrington. 
 
According to the district attorney's office, Earehart was employed by Membrane Concepts and was deployed to the camp to work on the pool at the time of the alleged assault.The victim, who was an employee of the camp at the time of the assault, stated they (singular to protect the victim's identity) were returning to a building at the camp when they were approached by Earhart. Shortly after being approached, the victim stated they were sexually assaulted. The alleged assault took place in the evening hours. 
 
The Great Barrington Police Department is the lead law enforcement agency on the case. 
 
The Berkshire State Police Detective Unit assigned to the Berkshire District Attorney's Office executed an extradition order from Indiana to return the Defendant to Massachusetts to face the two rape charges. 
 
The Defendant is being held on $50,000 cash bail without prejudice. The case is schedule to next appear in Berkshire Superior Court on March 31st for an appearance of counsel.  
 
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Frank Twing Sr. Sentenced to 25 Years in Albany Federal Court for Berkshire County Related Crimes
 
On October 31, 2024, Frank Twing Sr. of West Stockbridge, Massachusetts pled guilty to one count of sexual exploitation of a child involving a then 15-year-old victim and one count of travel with intent to engage in unlawful sexual conduct involving an approximately 12-year-old victim. 
 
On March 18, 2025, Frank Twing Sr. was sentenced to the above-mentioned crimes in Albany Federal Court to 25 years in Federal Prison, followed by 25 years of supervised release.
 
District Attorney Shugrue stated, "I commend the Berkshire State Police Detective Unit assigned to my Office for their dedicated investigation into Frank Twing's crimes. Their work was critical to the US Attorney's Office successful outcome in this case."
 
These charges come after an investigation occurred into Frank Twing, and his wife, Haley Twing in January of 2024 by the Massachusetts State Police – Berkshire Detective Unit. As a result of this investigation, Frank Twing, and a second Defendant, Haley Twing, were arrested by the Massachusetts State Police. Frank Twing was charged in Massachusetts with 2 counts of aggravated statutory rape, 2 counts of posing a child for sexual photos, and 1 count of trafficking a person for sexual servitude. Haley Twing has been charged in Massachusetts with 4 counts of posing a child for sexual photos, 2 counts of statutory rape, and 1 count of possession of child pornography.
 
This case was investigated by the Massachusetts State Police – Berkshire Detective Unit, New York State Police, and the FBI's Albany Division Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force.
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Pittsfield ConCom OKs Wahconah Park Demo, Ice Rink

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Conservation Commission has OKed the demolition of Wahconah Park and and the installation of a temporary ice rink on the property. 

The property at 105 Wahconah St. has drawn attention for several years after the grandstand was deemed unsafe in 2022. Planners have determined that starting from square one is the best option, and the park's front lawn is seen as a great place to site the new pop-up ice skating rink while baseball is paused. 

"From a higher level, the project's really two phases, and our goal is that phase one is this demolition phase, and we have a few goals that we want to meet as part of this step, and then the second step is to rehabilitate the park and to build new a new grandstand," James Scalise of SK Design explained on behalf of the city. 

"But we'd like these two phases to happen in series one immediately after the other." 

On Thursday, the ConCom issued orders of conditions for both city projects. 

Mayor Peter Marchetti received a final report from the Wahconah Park Restoration Committee last year recommending a $28.4 million rebuild of the grandstand and parking lot. In July, the Parks Commission voted to demolish the historic, crumbling grandstand and have the project team consider how to retain the electrical elements so that baseball can continue to be played. 

Last year, there was $18 million committed between grant funding and capital borrowing. 

This application approved only the demolition of the more than 100-year-old structure. Scalise explained that it establishes the reuse of the approved flood storage and storage created by the demolition, corrects the elevation benchmark, and corrects the wetland boundary. 

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