DAs Elect Capeless as New MDAA President
District Attorneys Elect Capeless as New MDAA President
The Massachusetts District Attorneys have elected Berkshire District Attorney David F. Capeless as MDAA’s new President.
Capeless has been the Berkshire District Attorney since March 2004, when he was appointed by Governor Mitt Romney to succeed former District Attorney Gerard D. Downing, who died suddenly in December, 2003. He was elected District Attorney in November 2004 and re-elected to a full four-year term in November, 2006.
Capeless’ top priority as MDAA President will be to help insure quality prosecutions during the economic downturn facing the Commonwealth and the nation. As with all other state agencies, the District Attorneys have already had to cut their budgets during the current fiscal year, and the new fiscal year that starts on July 1, 2009 will bring additional and steeper cuts. Under Capeless’ leadership, the MDAA will work closely with the Legislature and the Administration to strengthen public safety while developing and implementing cost-saving measures within the criminal justice system.
Capeless has been a prosecutor for over twenty-six years. He began his career as an Assistant District Attorney in Middlesex County in 1982, and returned to his native Pittsfield in 1990 to serve as DA Downing’s First Assistant District Attorney from 1991 to 2004. He has successfully prosecuted a number of notorious cases, including serial child-murderer Lewis Lent, who kidnapped and murdered thirteen–year-old Jimmy Bernardo of Pittsfield, and the 1992 shootings at Simon’s Rock College in Great Barrington by student Wayne Lo. He prosecuted the murder of 17-year-old Krystal Hopkins of Pittsfield by Adam Rosier, which resulted in a 1997 landmark decision by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court recognizing the STR [short tandem repeat] method of DNA testing, which has since become the industry standard for forensic DNA testing. Most recently, Mr. Capeless tried and convicted Patricia Olsen of first degree murder for the 2005 shooting in Lanesborough of her husband, Neil Olsen. In 1997, Capeless was honored as the Prosecutor of the Year by the District Attorneys Association.
During his four years as District Attorney, Capeless has focused the attention of Berkshire’s law enforcement community on the growing problem of gang violence and the illegal use of firearms. He has secured legislative appropriations of $150,000 the past three years to fund special operations by a county-wide Guns ‘n Gangs task force comprised of local police investigators working under the direction of the Berkshire County Drug Task Force. During the twenty-nine months of its operation, the special task force has made over 250 arrests and seized 52 firearms.
Capeless is a tireless supporter of proactive prevention initiatives. His office works collaboratively with local law enforcement, social service agencies, health care professionals and educators to address the social, economic and health issues facing citizens of the county. Capeless also uses his role as District Attorney to help foster positive change in the community. He has participated personally and offered the resources of his office to such groups as the Berkshire Health Systems Pain Management Initiative, the Leadership Council to End Homelessness, and the Berkshire Youth Development Project; he is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Berkshire United Way.
He is the son of former Pittsfield Mayor Robert Capeless and the grandson of former Pittsfield City Councilor and State Representative Matthew Capeless. Mr. Capeless, 56 years old, is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and Boston College Law School. He lives in West Stockbridge with his wife, Betsy, and his two sons, Charlie (13) and Sam (11).
He succeeds Cape and Islands District Attorney Michael O’Keefe as President of the MDAA. Northwestern District Attorney Elizabeth D. Scheibel, who serves the people of Franklin and Hampshire Counties, has been elected Vice President.