GREENFIELD — A Bernardston man released from prison earlier this month was arraigned after allegedly violating a restraining order aimed at protecting a family member, whom he previously pleaded guilty to strangling.

Antonio P. Candello, 52, pleaded not guilty in Greenfield District Court on Tuesday to single counts of violating an abuse prevention order, failing to register as a sex offender, resisting arrest and threatening to commit a crime. He was held without the right to bail pending a dangerousness hearing set for Sept. 27.

In October 2021, Candello was sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty in Franklin County Superior Court to one count of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, one count of strangulation (a subsequent offense), two counts of assault and battery on a family member (subsequent offenses), and two counts of witness intimidation. These charges stemmed from a May 2019 incident in which Candello strangled his wife before fleeing into the woods, cutting off his court-ordered ankle monitoring bracelet and taking refuge at an abandoned cabin where authorities later found him. Candello was released from prison on Sept. 9, after 11 months behind bars, because of days of credit he had accumulated while held without the right to bail, according to Northwestern District Attorney’s Office spokesperson Laurie Loisel.

According to a report filed by Bernardston Police Sgt. John Richardson, he was driving a police cruiser south on Route 5 at 5:20 p.m. on Sept. 18 when he noticed an unfamiliar black Toyota Prius in the driveway of Candello’s wife’s home. Police are monitoring the residence because of a restraining order against Candello.

Richardson’s report states he stopped at the home and met a man he was unfamiliar with. The man stated he had delivered groceries and was “just helping out.” Richardson reported the individual appeared nervous and fidgety.

The following morning, Richardson reported, Candello’s wife came to the Police Station and explained Candello had been in the woods behind her house when Richardson stopped by the day prior. She said the man who had dropped off groceries had brought Candello to the house and Candello had remained hiding next to a treehouse on the north end of the property. This was allegedly immediately before Richardson stopped at the home.

Due to Candello’s history of violence and fleeing from police, Richardson contacted neighboring agencies and the State Police to assist in finding Candello at a Turners Falls Road home, where he was staying even though his residence on the sex offender registry was listed at Carriage Lane in West Springfield. Authorities detained Candello as he tried to exit out a side door. Candello reportedly became irate and resisted arrest. He was told he was being taken into custody for failing to notify the registry about his change of address. Candello reportedly said he stays “in several places.”

Richardson also spoke to the man who had delivered groceries, seized his driver’s license, to be returned at a later date, and told him to expect charges for assisting Candello. Richardson also told the man not to contact Candello’s wife.

Reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or
413-772-0261, ext. 262.

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