Ledbetter pleads guilty to attempted arson and other charges
A Pittsfield man pleaded guilty this morning in Berkshire Superior Court on attempted arson and other charges. 27 year old JAMES E. LEDBETTER appeared before Judge John Agostini.
LEDBETTER pleaded guilty to two (2) counts of ATTEMPTING TO BURN A BUILDING, two (2) counts of BREAKING AND ENTERING A BUILDING IN THE DAYTIME WITH INTENT TO COMMIT A FELONY, one (1) count of LARCENY FROM A BUILDING, fifteen (15) counts of BREAKING AND ENTERING A MOTOR VEHICLE IN THE NIGHTTIME WITH INTENT TO COMMIT A FELONY, one (1) count of RECEIVING STOLEN PROPERTY UNDER $250, four (4) counts of LARCENY OF A MOTOR VEHICLE, two (2) counts of ATTACHING PLATES TO A MOTOR VEHICLE, one (1) count of RECEIVING OR POSSESSING A STOLEN MOTOR VEHICLE, one (1) count of NEGLIGENT OPERATION OF A MOTOR VEHICLE, four (4) counts of MALICIOUS DESTRUCTION OF PERSONAL PROPERTY UNDER $250 and one (1) count of MALICIOUS DESTRUCTION OF PERSONAL PROPERTY OVER $250. Judge Agostini ordered that he serve concurrent 5 to 8 year state prison sentences at the Massachusetts Correctional Institution at Cedar Junction on the charges of ATTEMPTING TO BURN A BUILDING, BREAKING AND ENTERING A BUILDING IN THE DAYTIME WITH INTENT TO COMMIT A FELONY, BREAKING AND ENTERING A MOTOR VEHICLE IN THE NIGHTTIME WITH INTENT TO COMMIT A FELONY, LARCENY OF A MOTOR VEHICLE, RECEIVING OR POSSESSING A STOLEN MOTOR VEHICLE, MALICIOUS DESTRUCTION OF PERSONAL PROPERTY UNDER $250 and MALICIOUS DESTRUCTION OF PERSONAL PROPERTY OVER $250. LEDBETTER was given concurrent jail time on the other charges.
LEDBETTER broke into F.L. Castine Moving and Storage and Jay’s Modern Bends Muffler and Auto, attempting to set fire to both establishments on February 24, 2012. WELSH also broke into numerous motor vehicles in Pittsfield and Cheshire on the same date.
One (1) count of BURNING A BUILDING was dismissed at the request of the Commonwealth.
The investigation was conducted by members of the Pittsfield and Cheshire Police Departments.