The next case on the criminal trial list for Superior Court is a first-time offender, Mitchell Lawrence, who is accused of selling one gram of marijuana to undercover officer Felix Aguirre. The alleged sale occurred in the a downtown Great Barrington parking lot at the beginning of a long sting operation by the Berkshire County Drug Task Force. Because the district attorney has evoked the school-zone law in this case, Lawrence faces a two-year mandatory minimum jail term if convicted. [continues 437 words]
The Eagle's editorial of Aug. 19 concerning the odd priorities of District Attorney David Capeless was short and to the point. While I have respect for his office and the weight of his responsibilities I am troubled by his recent choices. There were more then 69 cases on the criminal trial list for Superior Court in July, many involving violent acts: assaults, rape and other crimes that directly impact public safety. In July alone there were at lest two rape cases that went unheard because of the lengthy and unsuccessful prosecution of Kyle Sawin for selling a small amount of marijuana to an undercover officer. One of the rape cases, now more than a year old, involves a nursing home resident whose illness is characterized by the rapid deterioration of her physical ability, including her ability to communicate. [continues 78 words]
