GREENFIELD –- A Franklin County Superior Court judge has set a tentative August date for a rescheduled bail hearing for the Bernardston man who has pleaded not guilty to witness intimidation and violating a restraining order aimed at protecting a family member he previously pleaded guilty to strangling.

Antonio P. Candello, 53, was arraigned in Greenfield District Court in September 2022 but was indicted by a Superior Court grand jury due to his case’s severity. In January, he was ordered held without the right to bail due to a potential danger posed to the public.

On Thursday, Judge David Hodge selected Aug. 4 for the next session, but said this date may change to accommodate defense attorney Daniel Solomon, who has a federal trial around that time.

In October 2021, Candello was sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty in Superior Court to one count of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, one count of strangulation (subsequent offense), two counts of assault and battery on a family member (subsequent offenses), and two counts of witness intimidation. The charges stemmed from a May 2019 incident in which Candello strangled a family member before fleeing into the woods, cutting off his court-ordered ankle monitoring bracelet and taking refuge in an abandoned cabin where authorities later found him.

Candello was released from prison on Sept. 9, 2022 following 11 months behind bars, because of days of credit he had accumulated while held without the right to bail, according to the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office.

In September, a family member told Bernardston Police Candello had been in the woods behind her house, leading him to be charged with witness intimidation and violating a restraining order.

Assistant District Attorney Erin Aiello is prosecuting this case for the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office. She told Hodge she is prepared to go to trial.

Reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or 413-930-4120.

]]>