One Greenfield home invasion defendant up for bail, other three held

Defendant Kortney Thurber stands before Greenfield District Court Judge William Mazanec III last week as her trial date is set for July 17.

Defendant Kortney Thurber stands before Greenfield District Court Judge William Mazanec III last week as her trial date is set for July 17. STAFF PHOTO/ANTHONY CAMMALLERI

Defendants Casey Guillemette, Michael Burek and Bradley Trombley in Greenfield District Court last week.

Defendants Casey Guillemette, Michael Burek and Bradley Trombley in Greenfield District Court last week. STAFF PHOTO/ANTHONY CAMMALLERI

By ANTHONY CAMMALLERI

Staff Writer

Published: 04-17-2024 1:19 PM

GREENFIELD — Only one of the four defendants facing charges for allegedly breaking into a home on West Street on April 4 and assaulting the property owner is eligible for immediate bail following a detention hearing in Greenfield District Court on Tuesday.

Judge Brandon Freeman ruled that Michael Burek is eligible for $1,000 bail immediately, while Casey Guillemette will be eligible for $5,000 bail in 60 days, following a pretrial hearing set for May 15, and Bradley Trombley will be held without bail for 120 days. Kortney Thurber, who had two warrants out for her arrest at the time she was taken into custody, will be held until her pretrial hearing set for July 10, followed by a July 17 trial.

Thurber’s attorney, Isaac Mass, requested that his client, who is currently being held at the Western Massachusetts Regional Women’s Correctional Center in Chicopee on separate charges, await trial in Franklin County, so that he could more easily confer with Thurber on what he called a “possible 20-year-to-life-sentence case.” Judge William Mazanec III ruled in favor of Mass’ request last week.

According to Greenfield Police Detective Josh Lemay’s police report, the homeowner at 36 West St. opened the door on Thursday, April 4, after Thurber knocked and identified herself. Lemay wrote that the victim described Thurber as a “friend who he hadn’t seen in a while.”

“She asked to be let in and as soon as [the victim] cracked the door, he was rushed by Bradley, Michael and Casey as they entered the apartment around Kortney and pushed the door open,” Lemay wrote. “Bradley began to strike him in the face and body with a closed fist.”

After all four were arrested, Greenfield Police Officer Patricia West noted in her police report that Burek told authorities he was not aware that the group was visiting the house with malicious intent.

“Burek told me that ‘Brad, Casey and that girl said we were gonna go hang out at a guy’s house. We got to the door and they just barged in.’ Burek stated that he had no idea that they were up to anything,” West wrote in her report.

When West asked Burek if someone had a knife during the attack, the officer wrote that Burek “nodded, but did not speak.”

Article continues after...

Yesterday's Most Read Articles

“I figured that he did not want to say anything since Brad was within ear shot. I asked him in a quieter tone if it was Brad with the knife. Burek nodded again. I asked if someone had a gun. He said that he didn’t see one, but he thinks one of them might have said they had a gun as a scare tactic,” West wrote.

Greenfield Police Chief Todd Dodge previously said the homeowner suffered significant facial injuries, but declined medical treatment.

All four defendants, who are Greenfield residents, were charged with home invasion, breaking and entering in the daytime, assault and battery, armed assault in a dwelling and vandalism. Trombley faces an additional vandalism charge stemming from his actions inside his jail cell.

Anthony Cammalleri can be reached at acammalleri@recorder.com or 413-930-4429.