On Monday, November 9th, Joseph Pini, (49 years old) formerly of North Adams, was sentenced to 9 to 12 years in State Prison after being found guilty of 2 counts of Rape and one count of Furnishing Alcohol to a Minor. On Friday, November 6th, a jury found the Defendant guilty of all three charges after deliberating for four hours.
Honorable Judge Callan sentenced the Defendant to 9 to 12 years in State Prison for the two counts of Rape and a 6-months in the House of Corrections for Furnishing Alcohol to a Minor (to be served concurrently). The Commonwealth requested a sentence of 12 to 15 years in prison for the combined rape charges with 1 year in the House of Corrections (maximum sentence) for furnishing alcohol to a minor to be served concurrent. Defense requested a ‘very lengthy’ probationary period.
In November 2022, Joseph Pini brought a then-16-year-old to his home on Fairgrounds Avenue, North Adams. He proceeded to provide the teen with alcohol and then raped her, twice.
District Attorney Shugrue thanked the jury for their services. Following sentencing District Attorney Shugrue stated, “I commend the North Adams Police Department and the Child Abuse Unit in my office for their thorough and dedicated work in bringing this case to a successful conclusion. My thoughts remain with the survivor, whose life has been forever impacted by this horrific assault. While no verdict can undo the harm she endured, I hope that the guilty verdict and sentencing bring a measure of closure and allow her the opportunity to move forward.”
Chief of the Child Abuse Unit Andrew Giorilo represented the Commonwealth. Ian Benoit and Shairai Richards served as victim witness advocates on behalf of the Berkshire District Attorney’s Office. The North Adams Police Department served as the lead law enforcement agency on the case.
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