The former owner of TJ’s Sports Bar agrees to pay $42,000 in cash as part of a guilty plea that brings probation, avoids jail time and lets him keep his Bridge Street home. By DAVID REID   NORTHAMPTON – John Smith, arrested last October for having 30 pounds of marijuana in his home here, has [...]

Through a spokesman, the Secretary of the Commonwealth says he will ensure continuity in the office. Was he tipping his hand? NORTHAMPTON – A spokesman for Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin told Northampton Tuesday that the secretary knows about the pending retirement of Register of Deeds Marianne Donohue and, by month’s end, will move [...]

Lawyer W. Michael Ryan. (David Reid photos) Former judge and DA Mike Ryan talks candidly with Northampton Media about his recent trial, the case against him, the favorable jury verdict, lessons learned and what steps he will take to make ensure what happened to him doesn’t happen to anyone again.   NORTHAMPTON – The day [...]

“I see a real danger to freedom when police officers or government agents can stop people on the street and ask them where they’re coming from or going to, and demand to see their papers.” — W. Michael Ryan   NORTHAMPTON — The high-profile trial of W. Michael Ryan, a retired judge and former district [...]

Mike Ryan’s lawyer filed a motion to throw out the case, claiming that a city police detective intimidated a defense witness during a taped interview at police headquarters. The judge dismissed the motion and said the witness can testify. NORTHAMPTON — Lawyer W. Michael Ryan, 64, a retired district court judge and former district attorney, took the [...]

  Judge Charles Hely’s rulings on all three major motions back up city police in the Mike Ryan A&B case; the cruiser arrest video is shown twice in court.    NORTHAMPTON – When the dust settled after last week’s motion hearings in the case of former district attorney Mike Ryan, there was little left for [...]

After complaints, requests and motions are filed in the Mike Ryan A&B case, the Plymouth County judge assigned to the case finally agrees to hold pre-trial motion hearings in open court here tomorrow. NORTHAMPTON – The presiding judge in former DA Mike Ryan’s assault and battery trial is scheduled to rule on several defense motions [...]

  In a batch of new court filings, Mike Ryan’s lawyer claims the arresting office bamboozled the clerk-magistrate into issuing a criminal complaint by withholding key evidence: the cruiser video. NORTHAMPTON – The lawyer for former DA and judge Mike Ryan, who is charged with assault and battery on a police officer, has filed a new [...]

ARCHITECT HIRED TO DESIGN REPAIRS FOR HISTORIC SUMMIT HOUSE HADLEY – The state has hired a Great Barrington architectural firm to design repairs to the deteriorated Summit House atop Mount Holyoke here, a project officials believe will cost up to $500,000 in construction costs and take until next fall to complete. The historic Summit House, [...]

NORTHAMPTON – The pre-trial hearing for retired judge and DA W. Michael Ryan, scheduled for today in Northampton District Court, was not held, and will be dealt with administratively, according to Johanna Collins, a court clerk. Ryan, 64, of 43 Dryads Green, Northampton, has pled not guilty to charges of disorderly conduct and assault and [...]

Former DA Mike Ryan’s release of a police video, showing his recent arrest for A&B on a police officer, dominates area media coverage on Monday. Police chief defends his refusal to give video to reporters. ACLU lawyer says police search of Ryan’s wallet appears intrusive. NORTHAMPTON – If he was hoping to publicize the video [...]

Former judge Mike Ryan releases the police video of his arrest Oct. 15, when he was slammed against the trunk of a car and charged with assault and battery on a police officer. The exclusive video, Ryan’s defense lawyer says, does not jibe with the police reports, which allege Ryan was threatening the officer. By David [...]