Pittsfield man found guilty of rape and witness intimidation; flees to mexico mid-trial

Pittsfield man found guilty of rape and witness intimidation; flees to Mexico mid-trial

November 16, 2024

PITTSFIELD, Mass. – Cesar Lagunas, 51, was found guilty of rape and intimidation of a witness on Wednesday by a jury in Berkshire Superior Court, even as he fled to Mexico midway through the trial.

Lagunas, formerly of Pittsfield, was convicted of sexually assaulting a person on April 15, 2019, and threatening blackmail to prevent the victim from reporting the crime. The Honorable Judge John Agostini presided over the trial and allowed it to continue in the defendant’s absence.

District Attorney Timothy Shugrue praised the victim’s perseverance. “The survivor demonstrated immense strength and resilience throughout this process,” Shugrue said in a statement.

Lagunas fled the country on Monday, November 11, two days before the verdict. A warrant for his arrest has been issued, and authorities are pursuing his extradition. The Pittsfield Police Department, the State Police Detective Unit assigned to the Berkshire District Attorney’s Office, New York State Police, and Homeland Security Investigations are collaborating on the case.

The investigation was led by Pittsfield police, and the case was prosecuted by Chief of the Child Abuse Unit Andrew Giarolo. Victim support was provided by Jane Kibby-Pierce, Director of Victim Witness Advocates for the Berkshire District Attorney’s Office.

Lagunas remains at large as law enforcement works to bring him back to Massachusetts to face sentencing.

The fugitive conviction leaves a dark stain on Berkshire County, as authorities intensify efforts to apprehend the convicted rapist.

Shore News Network

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.