PITTSFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – A Pittsfield man has been sentenced to serve the maximum penalty after being found guilty in connection with a near-deadly stabbing outside a bar in 2023.
According to the Berkshire District Attorney’s Office, Walter Gadson, 30, was convicted on August 5 in Berkshire Superior Court of five charges, including assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury.
On August 22, following a separate bench trial, Gadson was also found guilty of being a habitual criminal offender, requiring him to serve the full 15-year sentence on the assault charge without the possibility of parole or good time credit.
The charges stem from a violent encounter on November 28, 2023. Prosecutors said Gadson confronted a woman—who had previously obtained a restraining order against him—and a male companion inside a Pittsfield bar. After being escorted out, Gadson waited outside, attacked the man as he left, and slashed him across the neck. He then allegedly grabbed the woman by the throat, blaming her for the incident.
The victim was rushed to Berkshire Medical Center, where medical experts testified his life was saved only because of immediate treatment.
In addition to the 15-year sentence, Gadson received concurrent sentences of two years for use without authority, two-and-a-half years each on two counts of violating an abuse prevention order, and five years for aggravated assault and battery.
Prosecutors cited Gadson’s prior record, which includes a 2012 conviction in Massachusetts for armed robbery and multiple assault charges, as well as a 2019 aggravated assault conviction in Georgia for which an active warrant remains after violating parole.
District Attorney Timothy Shugrue said the case was especially challenging because of the fear Gadson instilled in his victims and witnesses.
“This case presented significant challenges, particularly the fear instilled in victims and witnesses by Mr. Gadson. He terrorized one victim for an extended period and nearly killed another,” Shugrue said. “Thanks to the courage of those who testified, and the dedicated work of Assistant District Attorney Amy Winston and Victim Witness Advocate Krista Avery, an extremely dangerous individual has now been removed from our community.”
He added, “Walter Gadson received the maximum sentence for each crime of which he was convicted, reflecting the severity of his actions. I cannot stress enough the extreme level of terror and violence he rained down on his victims. I thank the court, including judge and jury, for their diligence and commitment to justice, not only for the victims for the safety of the Berkshires and beyond.”
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John Budenas
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