NORTHAMPTON — A Holyoke man accused of plotting to kill his alleged victim in a pending rape case left a courtroom amid a slew of profanities Monday.
Jason Coons, 38, pleaded not guilty in Hampshire Superior Court to a charge of conspiracy.
Coons has been held on bail in the Hampshire County Jail and House of Correction on charges of aggravated rape, kidnapping and intimidating a witness since July 2016.
Coons and his wife, Cynthia P. Coons, 50, arranged the murder-for-hire through recorded jail phone calls and letters, according to Assistant Northwestern District Attorney Jennifer Suhl.
Coons, his wife and her roommate Elinor Roberge, 47, both of Holyoke, have all denied the allegation.
Following the arraignments of the three in district court in April and May, they were ordered to have no contact with one another or the alleged victim. Cynthia Coons is being held on $100,000 bail.
Suhl told Judge Richard Carey that Jason and Cynthia Coons have repeatedly violated the no-contact order and there was significant evidence the two were using intermediaries and double-packaged letters to communicate.
Jason Coons’ attorney, Henry Fasoldt, argued the husband and wife should be able to communicate, saying that the existing no-contact order is not working and does not serve its purpose.
Fasoldt told the judge that most of the communication between the two was “stuff husband and wife talk about all the time” and said it was “very personal what spouses say to each other, especially when they’ve been apart a long time.”
Carey ruled that the no-contact order should remain in place. Shortly afterward, Coons tried to leave the courtroom before the hearing had concluded.
“F— that, I’m out of here,” Coons said.
As court officers led him out of the courtroom, Coons continued to talk.
“What happened last time you pushed me like that?” Coons said. “You’re really not going to want to do that.”
His next court appearance is scheduled for Sept. 13.
Emily Cutts can be reached at ecutts@gazettenet.com.