No Bail for North Adams Man on Charges Of Severely Beating Wife

The Berkshire Eagle  reports a North Adams man charged with severely beating his wife has been ordered to remain held without the right to bail.

Michael Cook, 42, also has been barred from contacting the victim while he is in custody.

During a hearing on Monday, Assistant Berkshire District Attorney Megan Tesoniero said Cook has already contacted at least one member of the victim's family via letter while he was in the Berkshire Jail and House of Correction. In adopting the motion, Judge John Agostini said his concern was for Cook, who, if not restricted from making contact, could do so and leave himself open for a felony charge of witness intimidation.

Agostini said the threshold for establishing enough probable cause for such a charge is very low.

Scott told police that he "snapped" over a personal dispute with his wife and "bashed her head in" in their Chase Avenue home on July 11. The assault left the woman in a coma.

Based on the state of the room, police believe the woman's head was struck against a bedroom dresser, according to a police report.

The Berkshire District Attorney's Office did not respond to a request for an update on the woman's condition.

Chase has pleaded not guilty to charges of assault to murder, aggravated assault and battery, assault and battery on a family or household member and armed assault to murder.

A pretrial hearing in the case was set for Jan. 30.