Springfield Man Admits To Rape, Gets 3 Years In Prison: DA Springfield Man Admits To Rape, Gets 3 Years In Prison: DA
Springfield Man Admits To Rape, Gets 3 Years In Prison: DA A 32-year-old Springfield man told a Hampshire County court this week that he knew the woman he had sex with in 2021 was too drunk to consent, but he proceeded anyway, authorities said.  Michael Pope pleaded guilty to three counts of rape, two counts of indecent assault and battery, and one count of providing alcohol to a person under 21 years of age, the Northwestern District Attorney's Office said.  Pope pleaded guilty to raping the Amherst woman in an apartment before the prosecution began, sparing the victim a trial, the prosecutor said.  Judge Jane Mulqueen se…
Teen Killed In Crash That Sent Car's Engine Through Western Mass Home During Police Chase: Cops Teen Killed In Crash That Sent Car's Engine Through Western Mass Home During Police Chase: Cops
Teen Killed In Crash That Sent Car's Engine Through Western Mass Home During Police Chase: Cops A 19-year-old trying to escape police in Hampshire County lost control of his car, left the road, and went airborne, causing his vehicle to come apart, authorities said.  The chase began around 8:45 p.m. when a Massachusetts State Trooper spotted a 2011 Nissan Altima and attempted to pull it over on Route 202 South in Belchertown. The driver stepped on the gas, police said. He was going too fast to manage a curve in the road and skidded off the highway.  The car smashed into a mulch bed, which sent the Nissan flying. It bounced off a rock wall and a light post before crashing…
Man Killed After SUV Crosses Into Oncoming Traffic In Western Mass Man Killed After SUV Crosses Into Oncoming Traffic In Western Mass
Man Killed After SUV Crosses Into Oncoming Traffic In Western Mass A 57-year-old man was killed in a head-on collision in Hampshire County on Tuesday, Aug. 15, authorities announced.  Edward Duggan, of Haydenville, died just after 2 p.m. following the crash near 202 Main St. in Haydenville, police said.  Initial investigations suggest Duggan drifted over the center line and into the path of a pick-up. The truck driver, a man from Worthington, suffered minor injuries in the crash. Authorities did not release his name.  A witness called 911. Police are investigating the cause of the incident, but authorities have not filed any charges in the …
Ex-Western Mass Fire Chief Embezzled $28K From Town, 3 Non-Profits: State Ex-Western Mass Fire Chief Embezzled $28K From Town, 3 Non-Profits: State
Ex-Western Mass Fire Chief Embezzled $28K From Town, 3 Non-Profits: State A Hampshire County grand jury indicted the former Ware fire chief on Thursday, Aug. 11, for allegedly stealing $28,000 from the town and regional fire associations, state investigators said.   Thomas Coulombe is charged with four counts of larceny over $1,200, the Massachusetts Office of Inspector General said. He is accused of filing inflated and false reimbursement requests to the town and stealing funds from three non-profit groups, of which he served as treasurer.  The Office of the Inspector General began investigating Coulombe after they received a tip about a…
Woman Accused Of Stabbing Boyfriend To Death In Western Mass Charged With Murder Woman Accused Of Stabbing Boyfriend To Death In Western Mass Charged With Murder
Woman Accused Of Stabbing Boyfriend To Death In Western Mass Charged With Murder A 23-year-old Hampshire County woman who police say stabbed her boyfriend five times during a fight at their home will return to court next week.  Jean Marie Echevarria, of Easthampton, who is charged with murder in the killing of Brennan Bleau, 23, was indicted on July 20, the Northwestern District Attorney's Office said. She will be arraigned on Wednesday, Aug. 9. She previously pleaded not guilty to the murder charge.  Investigators said Echevarria stabbed Bleau multiple times on March 14 at the Culdaff Street apartment they shared in Easthampton. When poli…
More Mosquitos With West Nile Virus Found In Western Mass: Health Officials More Mosquitos With West Nile Virus Found In Western Mass: Health Officials
More Mosquitos With West Nile Virus Found In Western Mass: Health Officials Massachusetts health officials have urged caution after more mosquitoes tested positive for the potentially fatal West Nile Virus in Hampshire County. This adds to the number of infected insects already found in West Springfield, Worcester, and Brookline.  The Massachusetts Health Department announced this week that testers had detected the virus in Hadley and South Hadley on July 28. The risk of exposure remains low for most people, but residents should take steps to prevent contracting West Nile Virus. Young children and the elderly are especially at risk of severe complications if th…
Fatal Crash: Man Admits To Western Mass Wreck That Killed 1, Injured Another Fatal Crash: Man Admits To Western Mass Wreck That Killed 1, Injured Another
Fatal Crash: Man Admits To Western Mass Wreck That Killed 1, Injured Another A 59-year-old man admitted fault on Thursday, July 27, to a fatal Hampden County crash in 2021 that killed a motorcyclist and seriously injured his passenger, authorities said. Aleksandyr Saykin, of East Longmeadow in Hampshire County, pleaded guilty to a charge of negligent operation of a motor vehicle, the Northwestern District Attorney's Office said.  Niles N. Robbins, 46, of Wales, died on May 15, 2021, when Saykin crashed into his Harley Davidson motorcycle on Route 9 in Belchertown near the intersection of Ware and Enoch Sanford roads, the prosecutor said. Robbins …
Trio of $1 Million Powerball Tickets Sold In Mass Trio of $1 Million Powerball Tickets Sold In Mass
Trio of $1 Million Powerball Tickets Sold In Mass They may not have snagged the $1 billion jackpot, but three Massachusetts tickets still hit it big.  Three Powerball tickets sold in Massachusetts scored $1 million in the Wednesday, July 19 drawing, according to the Massachusetts State Lottery.  Eight other Massachusetts tickets also brought home serious cash, with one winning a $100,000 prize and seven others winning $50,000 prizes.  The three $1 million winning tickets were purchased from the following locations:  In Norfolk County: Shaw’s Supermarket, located at 255 East Central Street in Franklin, in No…
Marina Owner Dies Days After Floods, Heavy Rains Damage Western Mass Docks Marina Owner Dies Days After Floods, Heavy Rains Damage Western Mass Docks
Marina Owner Dies Days After Floods, Heavy Rains Damage Western Mass Docks Luke Brunelle, the owner of Brunelle's Marina in Hampshire County, has died, the company announced on social media Friday, July 14. He was 61 years old. The marina asked for privacy as they grapple with the loss, but leaders added that they would continue Luke's dedication to fostering a thriving boating culture in South Hadley and the surrounding areas.  The Brunelle family built the marina in 1959 with just a boat ramp, but it quickly grew and became a popular destination for boaters around the region. Luke Brunelle's cause of death was not released, but it comes just days after many of…
Fiancé Charged With DUI Crash That Killed Western Mass Mom Fiancé Charged With DUI Crash That Killed Western Mass Mom
Fiancé Charged With DUI Crash That Killed Western Mass Mom A 30-year-old Hampshire County man is accused of killing his fiancée when he lost control of his SUV and crashed while driving drunk earlier this month, authorities announced on Wednesday, July 12.  Cory Menard, of Granby, is charged with motor vehicle homicide while under the influence of alcohol, negligent operation, manslaughter while under the influence of alcohol, manslaughter, and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, the Northwestern District Attorney's Office said. Katelyn Gress, age 28, of Granby, died on July 1 after Menard lost control of his Jeep Grand Cherokee, which ca…
Dead Body Found Inside Burning Belchertown Home Dead Body Found Inside Burning Belchertown Home
Dead Body Found Inside Burning Belchertown Home Fire crews in Hampshire County found a dead body inside a Belchertown home after they raced to put out the fire consuming a house at 42 Daniel Square, authorities said.  Belchertown crews called for mutual aid, and nearby firehouses in Amherst, Bondsville, Granby, Ludlow, Palmer, Pelham, Three Rivers, and Westover provided mutual assistance to fight the flames.   Once the flames were out and investigators could begin their inquiries, authorities found the body of an adult male inside the home. Police did not identify the man or say if he lived there.  They also did…
Fire Crews Battling Blaze At Western Mass Home Fire Crews Battling Blaze At Western Mass Home
Fire Crews Battling Blaze At Western Mass Home Firefighters were battling a two-alarm blaze in Hampshire County on Monday afternoon, July 10.  Belchertown fire crews asked for support after 1:30 p.m. as the blaze raged through the 42 Daniel Square home. Granby firefighters answered the call with tanker trucks and additional personnel to assist.  It's unclear if anyone was injured or if the home was occupied.  State and local fire investigators were also called to determine what sparked the blaze.  Check back with the Daily Voice for updates on this developing story.