NORTHAMPTON — A 58-year-old Springfield man facing 20 years in prison as a habitual criminal remained jailed on $30,000 bail after his arraignment Thursday on numerous charges connected to a burglary spree this spring in Hampshire County.
Roberto Hernandez entered not-guilty pleas before Judge Francis Flannery in Hampshire Superior Court following an Aug. 31 indictment by a grand jury on multiple charges of larceny from a building and breaking and entering in the daytime. Assistant Northwestern District Attorney Nicholas Atallah said the charges stemmed from a series of break-ins at five addresses in South Hadley, three in Easthampton, and one each in Hadley and Southampton. Among the items taken were guns and ammunition.
Laura Curtis, 44, of Springfield was arraigned at the same time on three counts of receiving stolen property. She pleaded not guilty through her attorney, Carrie Lilley, and was released on her own recognizance.
Atallah asked that Hernandez be held on $100,000 bail due to the serious nature of the offenses and the fact that the defendant has a long record of similar crimes and could face an enhanced sentence as a common and notorious thief.
But defense attorney Derk Wadas argued that his client was a lifelong resident of the area and has been jailed for three months on $30,000 bail on two of the burglary counts, which he said he is unable to pay. Hernandez works as a painter and has minimal assets, he said. He asked Flannery to leave bail as it stands.
Flannery, taking Wadas’ point that bail as set appeared to be beyond Hernandez’s means to cover, agreed to leave the amount at $30,000. A hearing in the case was set for Dec. 13.
James Pentland can be reached at jpentland@gazettenet.com