NORTHAMPTON — A Northampton man charged with assaulting a man with developmental disabilities last year had his bail set at $2,000 Friday after being held without right to bail for two months.
Donald P. Renkowicz, 55, pleaded not guilty in Hampshire Superior Court in March to charges of assault and battery on a disabled person, intimidation of a witness and threatening to commit a crime.
Northampton Police were called to Meadow Street on Oct. 19, 2017, shortly after 8 p.m. for a report of an assault that had just occurred.
The alleged victim, a 38-year-old man with developmental disabilities, had a swollen upper lip and small cuts on his face when officers arrived, according to a report by Northampton Officer Heather Longley.
The man told police that a man named “Don” had punched him in the face five times and threatened to burn down his house if he went to the police, Longley wrote. The two men were known to each other.
Renkowicz had been held without the right to bail since April after he allegedly violated his pretrial conditions of release.
In court Friday, Assistant Northwestern District Attorney Jeremy Bucci argued that Renkowicz should have his bail set at $10,000 saying the man had “one of the most astonishing records of violence” the attorney had seen in 17 years. Bucci told the judge it was “very apparent” that Renkowicz had a “tremendous drinking problem.”
Following his arraignment in district court, Renkowicz was released on $500 bail and ordered to have no contact with the alleged victim and remain alcohol free. He allegedly violated his pretrial conditions of release in district court due to a missed appointment and was held without right to bail for a period of 60 days.
Defense attorney Colin Keefe said he strongly disagreed with the prosecutor’s characterization of Renkowicz and argued that his client had a history of showing up to court. With 51 cases on his adult record, Keefe said Renkowicz only had one straight warrant and successfully completed probation three times.
On the recent alleged probation violation, Keefe said Renkowicz showed up to probation to take a breath test which showed signs of alcohol, left the courthouse and then came back despite the fact he would likely be held because of it. Keefe also argued that the prosecution’s case was not as strong as they presented it, adding that Renkowicz was acting in self-defense.
Judge John Agostini ordered that bail be set in the amount of $2,000 and that if posted Renkowicz be placed on home confinement with GPS monitoring. Renkowicz was also ordered to abide by an existing harassment order.
Emily Cutts can be reached at ecutts@gazettenet.com.