NORTHAMPTON – A Westfield man who was arrested in February for allegedly driving drunk with a pipe bomb in his car pleaded not guilty Tuesday in Hampshire Superior Court.
Joseph J. Largay, 25, previously pleaded not guilty to the charges in Northampton District Court. The case was moved to Superior Court after he was indicted by a grand jury in April on charges of operating while under the influence of alcohol, unlawful possession of a loaded firearm while under the influence of alcohol and unlawful possession or control of an incendiary device.
A district court judge in March ruled that Largay could be released from jail. He previously had been held without bail.
Judge Daniel A. Ford on Tuesday approved his release on personal recognizance under the conditions that he live with his father, not possess firearms, abstain from alcohol and submit to random alcohol screenings.
He is due back in court for a pretrial hearing Aug. 11.
Largay was stopped on Bridge Street in Northampton on Feb. 26 after officers observed him swerving in and out of traffic lanes.
Largay told officers he had a handgun inside the car’s console. When officers reached into the console, they noticed a homemade pipe bomb, according to the police report.
Largay told officers it was the first time he had made such a bomb, comparing it to making fireworks, according to the report.
Chris Lindahl can be reached at clindahl@gazettenet.com.