New England Public Radio

Anthony Baye Pleads Guilty to 48 Counts, Including Arson and Manslaughter

 
In an unexpected turn of events, alleged arsonist Anthony Baye pled guilty this morning  to setting dozens of fires in Northampton, Massachusetts between 2007 and 2009, one which killed two people. 
 
Baye was on trial in Springfield for murder and arson charges related to fifteen fires set in late 2009 . But in a deal reached by the prosecution and defense, Baye pled guilty to all counts, including additional arson indictments dating back to 2007, and two counts of murder were reduced to manslaughter. Baye’s motives for suddenly pleading guilty after a complicated, three year long court process are unclear. But Northwestern District Attorney David Sullivan says Northampton is safer with the case resolved.
 
“We have a person who has stepped up to the plate today, admitted his guilt, and we know that there isn’t somebody at large that will create a public safety risk,” says Sullivan.
 
Baye’s defense attorneys declined to comment on the plea until after he is sentenced on Wednesday. Baye faces up to 20 years in prison for manslaughter, and an additional 15 years’ probation for arson charges.

Anthony Baye Trial: Opening Statements Show Some Prosecution, Defense Agreements

The trial of Anthony Baye began with opening statements in Springfield Thursday. Baye is accused of setting fifteen fires in Northampton, Massachusetts in December 2009. One fire killed two men in their home.

Anthony Baye smiled and waved to his family as he entered Hampden Superior Court, before 36 indictments were read by the court clerk.

30 charges are related to fires set on the night of December 27th, 2009, including two counts of murder and over a dozen counts of arson of both houses and cars. Six charges are for misleading police officers in the days that followed.

In his opening statement, state prosecutor Brett Vottero acknowledged that there is little direct evidence that Baye set the Northampton fires.

“There wasn’t a single person that saw anyone setting fires in Northampton on December 27th. You won’t hear from an eyewitness to any of it,” said Vottero

Vottero also said there is no DNA or fingerprint evidence linking Baye to the fires. But Vottero argued Baye lied about his whereabouts during several meetings with police after December 27th, which along with other statements before police, indicate his guilt.

Though Baye has pleaded not guilty to all charges, defense attorney David Hoose said in his opening that he and Vottero agree that Baye should be found guilty of misleading police.

“He told a lie, he didn’t set a fire. That’s what the evidence will show you,” said Hoose.

Hoose added the state has no evidence to show Anthony Baye set any fires. After opening statements, the jury was bussed to Northampton to view several fire sites.

Preview of the Anthony Baye Trial

Jury selection in the long-delayed trial of alleged Northampton, Massachusetts arsonist Anthony Baye is began Monday. Baye is charged with setting a series of fires in 2009, one which killed two people. Last week, the trial was moved to Springfield. New England Public Radio’s Henry Epp has this preview.

Jury Selection Begins in Anthony Baye Trial

The trial of Anthony Baye, began with jury selection Monday in Hampden Superior Court in Springfield. Baye is accused of setting a series of fires in Northampton, Massachusetts, one which killed two people.

Well over 200 potential jurors were called by Judge Constance Sweeney, but only five were seated. Sweeney ruled several months ago the jury for this case will be selected from Hampden county, and last week chose to move the entire trial to Springfield, because of the case’s notoriety in Hampshire county. But even in Springfield, selecting an impartial jury for this high profile trial that could last several weeks is slow going.

Sweeney also ruled that Baye will only be tried for a group of fires set on the night of December 27th, 2009. He was previously indicted on arson charges from 2007 and earlier in 2009, but those incidents will not be considered at this trial. Sweeney also dismissed a defense motion to drop all charges against Baye. Jury selection resumes Tuesday.

For an extended preview of the Baye trial, click here.

Remembering Western MA’s Calvin Coolidge on Presidents’ Day

Today’s Presidents’ Day holiday is still officially called “Washington’s Birthday” by the federal government, but it’s commonly known as a celebration of all U.S. presidents. That includes some of the less remembered presidents such as Calvin Coolidge, who got his political start in western Massachusetts. 

Known as “Silent Cal,” Coolidge was a famously private public figure. But Amity Shlaes, author of a new biography of President Calvin Coolidge, says he was more than that.

“The caricature is that he’s cold, and doesn’t care about people,” says Shlaes.  “He cared a lot about people, he just believed the caring for people should often happen at the local level, in the church, in the town.”

Born in Vermont, Coolidge garnered an impressive resume in western Massachusetts. He attended Amherst College, was a private lawyer in Northampton, and became Mayor of the city in 1910. He went on to become a Massachusetts State Senator, Lieutenant Governor, Governor, and Vice President, before becoming  President in 1923. Shlaes says Coolidge was a progressive Republican – he supported Women’s suffrage and courted the votes of immigrant families. But she says Coolidge, who strongly believed in local and state control of government, changed when he entered national politics.

“He was a more decidedly conservative Vice President and President than he had been as a state lawmaker here in Massachusetts.”

Shlaes says Coolidge’s presidency deserves more recognition. But she says Coolidge’s attitudes toward federal spending have limited the resources for foundations and memorials in his name. 

“One reason they’re not so big is Coolidge didn’t like government support. He was anxious about it. So he sort of cut off his legacy nose to spite his legacy face.”

But spend enough time in Northampton, and you’re bound to run into a few memorials, exhibits, and public works celebrating the quiet 30th President.

Cara Rintala Case Moves Forward, With Challenges of Media Coverage

Jury selection continued in Hampshire Superior Court in Northampton, Massachusetts Tuesday at the trial of Cara Rintala. Rintala is charged with the first-degree murder of her wife, Annamarie Rintala in 2010. The trial has garnered media attention as the first murder case in the state between a married same-sex couple.

Last week, Cara Rintala’s defense attorney David Hoose attempted to have an evidentiary hearing closed to the press, arguing that allowing possible evidence to be publicized could influence potential jurors. That motion was denied by Judge Mary Lou Rup. Northampton-based defense attorney Marissa Elkins says Hoose’s request was reasonable.

“With a hearing like that coming so close in time to when the jury trial was going to start, I do think there was some greater risk that everyday readers, just glancing at the newspaper, would see, and hear, and read about evidence that could have been excluded.”

Elkins says the Rintala case is similar to many others of domestic violence and abuse.

“It was only a matter of time before a case like this came before some court in Massachusetts, or some other state where gay marriage was legal.”

Gay marriage has been legal In Massachusetts since 2004. Jury selection is expected to continue this week. According to masslive.com, Judge Rup has told potential jurors the trial could last up to a month.