Ashfield man takes plea deal on drug, gun charges

GREENFIELD — An Ashfield man pleaded guilty in Franklin County Superior Court to drug and firearms charges on Wednesday, two years after his arrest in the Big Y Plaza parking lot.

Justin R. Page, 30, changed his plea regarding one count of unlawful possession of a firearm and one count of possession of a Class A drug (heroin) with intent to distribute, and was sentenced to three years in prison. He will receive 193 days of credit for the time he was incarcerated after his arrest and before he posted bail. He will be on probation for two years once his prison sentence ends.

On Sept. 24, 2021, Greenfield Police Deputy Chief William Gordon and his wife, then-Greenfield Police Officer Laura Gordon, were off-duty in an unmarked police cruiser in the Big Y Plaza parking lot when a call came in for a welfare check on a man who appeared to be “slumped over” a steering wheel, according to a police report written by the deputy chief. The Gordons identified themselves as police officers and the deputy chief radioed to dispatch.

According to the police report, Page fought to remain in the vehicle and seemed to be reaching for a backpack. Responding on-duty officers assisted the Gordons in controlling Page and removing the backpack, which officers feared might contain weapons.

Assistant District Attorney Matthew Thomas, who prosecuted this case for the state, said in court on Wednesday that Page was found to be in possession of 550 baggies of heroin, $1,286 in cash and a loaded firearm. Page was represented by defense attorney Isaac Mass, who said his client is working diligently on his sobriety.

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