Friends of Justice

Dear Friend of Justice,

Here is a trailer for Freeing Bernie Baran, a new documentary about the Bernard Baran case by Daniel Alexander.

-Bob Chatelle

Dear Friend of Justice,

Our friend David Foley yesterday sent me this essay, which he had written over seven years ago,  about Bernard Baran. On my request, David gave me permission to share it with you.

-Bob Chatelle

Dear Friend of Justice,

I began learning about corrupt Berkshire County back in 1998, when Jim and I became involved in the Bernard Baran case. We soon learned that Baran’s was far from the only case of an almost certainly innocent person behind bars for non-existent sexual abuse of a child out there.

As we got to know more and more friends and relatives of the wrongfully convicted, we also began hearing rumors about the sexual misconduct of members of the Berkshire establishment, including several directly involved in the wrongful-conviction cases. I did not pass these rumors on for two reasons. One, I didn’t consider them directly relevant to the cases. And two, I felt nothing should be done while the alleged victims were refusing to go public with their charges.

I did, however, suspect that at least some of these charges were true. When political power is concentrated in a few hands, members of the ruling elite eventually come to consider themselves outside of the reaches of the law. Indeed, they may in fact be the law. In such a corrupt community, challenging the authorities can have very nasty consequences.

One name frequently came up in these conversations:  Berkshire County Sheriff Carmen Massimiano. I will not repeat these allegations because they are, thus far, unsubstantiated. My attitude then, as now, was that if these things happened then the accusers should muster the courage to go public.

Now one accuser has gone public. Today, this story was published in the Berkshire Eagle.

Massimiano has the right, so frequently denied to others in Berkshire County, to the presumption of innocence. If the charges against him are true, others may come forward. If he is eventually found guilty in a court of law, a powerful blow will have been dealt to the ruling cadre of Berkshire County.

And if he is innocent, someone in power out there will experience first hand the horror of living with a false accusation.

It will be interesting to see what will happen next.

-Bob

Dear Friend of Justice,

My Baran google alert came up with this today: http://elmtreeforge.blogspot.com/2009/11/massachusetts-superior-court-judge.html

I have no major news about Bee’s health. His lungs are doing much better and his asthma bothers him less. But he still has discomfort from his pancreatitis and colitis.

-Bob Chatelle

Dear Friend of Justice,

I haven’t posted any updates on Bernard Baran for a while because there have been no dramatic changes, for better or worse. But I relize that many of you are worried and want to know what has been going on.

On a positive note, he has stayed out of the hospital and his lungs have much improved. He often sounds like his old self on the phone.

On the other hand, his white cell count is up and doctors are worried that this could be the prelude to another pancreatitis attack.

I had been hoping that his recovery would be quick and dramatic. I now realize that this is going to be a very slow process.

Some years ago, one of my cousins was felled with pancreatitis. She had an absolutely terrible time for a full year. But she has been doing quite well for the past decade.

I guess we just have to be patient and keep hoping.

I wonder how Judge Daniel Ford is feeling these days.

-Bob

Dear Friend of Justice,

My partner, Jim D’entremont, has created a web album with some of his pictures of our recent vacation in Portugal.

We spoke with Bee last night and he did sound much better than he had the day before. At times, he seemed like his old self.

Some day next week David will be bringing him to our apartment in the morning so that we can take care of him for a day.

-Bob

Dear Friend of Justice,

Jim D’Entremont, our friend Derek, and I planned to visit Bee in the hospital last Saturday. But when we called, we were told he had been discharged.

We called David, who was in the process of driving him home. David told us that Bee was totally exhausted and was sleeping in the call. he felt that Bee wasn’t up for a visit.

On Sunday, Bee’s lawyer went out to visit him. John is very concerned that Bee is getting the best possible medical care. He plans to have Bee’s records examined by other doctors. If necessary, John will get him new doctors.

We spoke with him last night. While he sounded terrible, he assured us that he was feeling much better than he had been. He is now on 11 different medications.

Today he has an appointment with a nutritionist. And tomorrow he has two medical appointments.

Will keep you posted on any developments.

-Bob Chatelle

Dear Friend of Justice,

Jim D’Entremont and I arrived back from Lisbon just a few minutes ago and I am very jet lagged.

We kept in close touch with Bee while we were away. He was finally allowed to go home from the hospital on the evening of October 12th, the day we left. He seemed a bit better, but then developed a cold near the end of the week. This triggered a severe asthma attack. (Bee has suffered from asthma since childhood.) Finally, last night his partner David took him to the hospital because he was having trouble breathing. He is still there. He has been diagnosed with bronchitis and possibly pneumonia. He will probably be moved into intensive care.

We are all very worried about him.

-Bob Chatelle

Dear Friend of Justice,

I just talked to him. He has had many tests — blood work, MRI, ultrasound. A CAT scan is next.

Fortunately, his blood work doesn’t look that bad. So they next want to make sure it’s not appendicitis. The CAT scan should tell that that.

We are leaving presently for the airport. My next posting will be from Portugal.

-Bob

Dear Friend of Justice,

I’m sorry to report that Bee is in Winchester Hospital. He had a bad night last night and David took him in around five this morning. We just talked with him but he was taken away for tests. We will keep you updated.

Unfortunately, Jim D’entremont and I are leaving for vacation for ten days this afternoon. But we will be in contact by phone and I will post more information while we’re away.

-Bob Chatelle