Madzy has been held at the Hampshire County Jail and House of Corrections since his arrest May 13.
07.15.2011 | NORTHAMPTON - Harrison Madzy appears in court Friday.NORTHAMPTON - A former Easthampton man charged in connection with severely beating a 22-year-old University of Massachusetts graduate on the night of his graduation was released on his own recognizance Friday.
Judge Peter Velis allowed for the release of Harrison L. Madzy, 39, following a dangerousness hearing Friday in Hampshire Superior Court. Among the conditions of his release: Madzy must reside with his father in Pittsfield and stay out Amherst, where the alleged attack occurred.
Madzy has been held at the Hampshire County Jail and House of Correction since his arrest May 13 following the altercation in a parking lot adjacent to the parking garage on Boltwood Walk.
Madzy will be held until a monitoring system can be located. When he is released, he must abide by a curfew of 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. and report to probation at least three times a week.
Prosecutor Jayme A. Parent argued that Madzy continue to be held, based on the seriousness and randomness of the attack. But, she asked that the defendant be required to wear a monitoring device and stay out Amherst, where the victim will be living in the fall, in the event Velis allowed Madzy's release.
Velis also ordered Madzy to have no contact of any kind with the victim, his family or any witnesses.
The assault started over a dispute over a parking space on the night of graduation.
The victim’s family had pulled into a space that restricted parking for delivery drivers and the defendant, who was delivering food that night, pointed out that it was restricted parking. Parent said that the victim told Madzy that he lived in the area and that it was all right to park there at night.
Defense counsel John S. Ferrara told the judge that the alleged victim had been drinking alcohol that afternoon and was “taunting and belittling to Mr. Madzy.” He also said at the time of the exchange (Madzy) “was experiencing personal difficulties.”
He said his client had no record and had received an engineering degree from UMass. He said Madzy “is quiet, thoughtful and non-aggressive,” and described what happened that night as "completely out of character".
Madzy allegedly grabbed a socket wrench from his car and struck the 22-year-old man in the head. The man sustained a fractured skull and a leg fracture in a subsequent fall.
Madzy is charged with three counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and assault and battery with serious bodily injury. The graduate's brother — a 24-year-old New Jersey resident — sustained a hand injury during the altercation.