Latest news with #BerkshireDistrictAttorney'sOffice
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
North Adams man sentenced to prison for assaulting child
PITTSFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – A North Adams man pleaded guilty to five charges involving assaulting a child in Berkshire Superior Court on Thursday. Springfield man sentenced to life for 2021 Chicopee murder Berkshire District Attorney's Office Chief of Operations Julia Sabourin shared in a news release that in 2022, 37-year-old Jesriel Morales of North Adams allegedly assaulted a six-year-old child. Morales reportedly slammed the child into a window and wall, hit them with a belt, slapped them, and forced them to kneel on dried rice. On Thursday, Morales pleaded guilty to three counts of Aggravated Assault and Battery with a Dangerous Weapon on a Child and two counts of Assault and Battery. He was sentenced to two and a half years in the Berkshire House of Corrections, followed by two years of probation. Morales was also ordered by the judge to have no contact with the victim and to participate in the Fatherhood program. 'I am pleased with the guilty plea,' said Berkshire District Attorney Timothy Shugrue. 'Jesriel Morales preyed on the most innocent member of society. Today, my thoughts are with the very young victim. I hope this conclusion provides them some peace and feeling of safety and security.' WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Yahoo
Berkshire County man sentenced for 2018 rape
PITTSFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – A jury found a Housatonic man found guilty of rape and was sentenced to prison on Tuesday. Amherst man sentenced for child abuse material offenses Berkshire District Attorney's Office Chief of Operations Julia Sabourin said that 45-year-old Timothy Formel of Housatonic was found guilty during a jury trial for raping a woman in May 2018 in New Marlborough. The survivor of the rape testified in court, and District Attorney Shugrue commended her for her bravery. Formel was sentenced to 4 to 5 years in state prison. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Yahoo
Woman sentenced for witness intimidation in Berkshire County case
PITTSFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – A woman was sentenced after pleading guilty to two counts of witness intimidation from a case in Berkshire County. Berkshire District Attorney's Office Spokesperson Julia Sabourin told 22News in a news release that Destiny Culpo-Lechner provided testimony for a defendant in a grand jury case that concluded in November 2022. It was alleged during that time that she attempted to intimidate a person based on their participation in the grand jury. Cambridge teacher, Maryland man charged in federal child exploitation case The DA's office says that Culpo-Lechner, who was also the landlord for this person, sent harassing text messages, which disrupted his family, and attempted to evict him from his apartment. District Attorney Shugrue stated, 'Witness intimidation is a very real issue in the Berkshires. It creates fear in victims and witnesses of crime and hinders our attempt to fully prosecute cases. I will not tolerate attempts to intimidate victims of crime and will continue to bring charges forward on those attempting to do so.' On Wednesday, Culpo-Lechner pleaded guilty to two counts of witness intimidation and was sentenced to two years in the House of Corrections, suspended for one year with conditions of no contact with the victim and anger management. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Yahoo
Pittsfield man sentenced to prison for multiple counts of sexual assault of a child
PITTSFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – A man formerly living in Pittsfield pleaded guilty to multiple counts of sexual assault of a child and has been sentenced to prison. New Haven woman sentenced in multi-state sex trafficking operation The Berkshire District Attorney's Office said that last Wednesday, 42-year-old Henrry Ospina Samaca pleaded guilty to the following charges: 2 counts of Rape of a Child with Force 2 counts of Aggravated Statutory Rape 2 counts of Witness Intimidation 6 counts of Indecent Assault & Battery under 14 The investigation was led by the Pittsfield Police Department. Samaca was sentenced to 10 years to 10 years and one day in prison for the counts of rape and aggravated statutory rape. Samaca was sentenced to the maximum nine to 10 years in prison, to be served concurrently for the indecent assault and battery charges. His sentence will be served in State Prison. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Yahoo
Indiana man arraigned in Berkshire County on rape charges
PITTSFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – A Clinton, Indiana, man has been arraigned in Berkshire Superior Court on two counts of rape in connection with a 2022 assault at a summer camp in Great Barrington. According to the Berkshire District Attorney's Office, James Earehart, 54, of Clinton, Indiana, was arraigned Tuesday on charges stemming from a June 16, 2022, incident at a camp on Brookside Road in Great Barrington. Prosecutors allege that Earehart, who was working at the camp as an employee of Membrane Concepts, sexually assaulted an employee of the camp in the evening hours. According to court documents, the victim reported being approached by Earehart while returning to a building on the property. Shortly after the encounter, the victim stated they were sexually assaulted. The Great Barrington Police Department is leading the investigation, with assistance from the Berkshire State Police Detective Unit assigned to the Berkshire District Attorney's Office. Authorities extradited Earehart from Indiana to Massachusetts to face the two rape charges. At Tuesday's arraignment, a judge ordered Earehart held on $50,000 cash bail without prejudice. His next court appearance is scheduled for March 31 for an appearance of counsel hearing in Berkshire Superior Court. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
