BELCHERTOWN — A Connecticut man who allegedly shot a Hadley man on the afternoon of Dec. 31 will continue to be held without bail until a dangerousness hearing on March 1.

Defense attorney Francis Dimento Jr. of Boston asked for a six-week continuance of the initial dangerousness hearing for Marc A. Veturis, 28, of Waterbury, in Eastern Hampshire District Court Tuesday afternoon.

Dimento told Judge John McKenna that the delay would give him more time to prepare for that hearing.

Veturis earlier pleaded not guilty to charges of armed assault with a firearm with intent to murder, assault and battery by discharging a firearm, attempting to commit a kidnapping with a firearm, unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition and unlawful possession of a loaded firearm.

Veturis allegedly fired three shots at the victim, identified as Bruce E. Jenks, with one bullet striking Jenks in the shoulder, and all of the bullets hitting a barn at 102 Mill Valley Road, according to a police report of the incident.

Northwestern Deputy District Attorney Jennifer Suhl said that her office had no objections to putting off the dangerousness hearing. Suhl asked to keep various exhibits related to the shooting impounded and that a protective order remain in effect for Jenks and his family.

Jenks was briefly in the courtroom. He left when the judge agreed to the continuance and conditions, while Veturis family members, filling up much of a front row, conferred with Dimento afterward.

— Scott Merzbach

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