NORTHAMPTON – A city man pleaded not guilty in Hampshire Superior Court on Monday to charges that he set two fires in October that caused more than $45,000 in damage.
Gregory McMaster, 38, was arraigned on charges of assault and battery on a public employee, intimidation of a witness, burning personal property and two counts of burning a building.
McMaster was arrested Oct. 9 in the early morning hours after allegedly setting fire to several 6-foot stacks of plastic containers on pallets covered with a tarp behind CVS pharmacy on King Street, and then setting fire to a tool shed at Congregation B’nai Israel’s Abundance Farm on Prospect Street. While he was being taken to the police station he spat on an officer, police said, resulting in the assault and battery charge.
He has been held since his arrest after being deemed dangerous following a hearing in Northampton District Court last month. He will continue to be held without right to bail on the charges in superior court.
At the time of his arrest, McMaster told police he did not remember his travel path that evening because he blacked out, according to court documents. McMaster also denied setting the fires.
A prosecutor in district court categorized the evidence of the crime as “circumstantial,” as no one saw McMaster light the fire on Prospect Street, but he was very close to the location when police spoke with him. McMaster’s shoes allegedly had mud and a small amount of hay on the bottom on them when he was stopped by police, according to court documents. Officers also found a lighter in his pocket as well as loose tobacco and rolling papers.
McMaster is being represented by public defender Korrina Burnham. He next court appearance is scheduled for Jan. 18, 2018.
Emily Cutts can be reached at ecutts@gazettenet.com.