Middlefield man remains held on 62 charges in child rape case

The Hampshire County Courthouse in Northampton.

The Hampshire County Courthouse in Northampton. GAZETTE FILE PHOTO

By JAMES PENTLAND

Staff Writer

Published: 06-14-2024 9:40 AM

Modified: 06-14-2024 12:34 PM


NORTHAMPTON — A Middlefield man facing 62 charges in a sweeping indictment involving child rape was returned to jail Thursday after pleading not guilty on all counts in Hampshire Superior Court.

Keane E. Kendall, 36, has been held without the right to bail since he was arraigned in January on three separate complaints in Northampton District Court. The charges include multiple counts of rape of a child, indecent assault and battery on a child, indecent assault and battery on a person 14 or over, witness intimidation and conspiracy.

Kendall was indicted by a grand jury May 7, moving his case up to Superior Court.

Assistant District Attorney Lori Odierna and defense attorney Rinaldo Del Gallo agreed that Kendall should remain incarcerated and under the same conditions pending a dangerousness hearing June 25.

The conditions are that he have no contact with the named victims or with his parents, who were arraigned on charges related to the case at the same time Thursday.

Patricia McIntyre of Cummington was released on her own recognizance after pleading not guilty to eight counts of witness intimidation, seven counts of conspiracy and five counts of violating an abuse prevention order.

Judge Karen Goodwin also ordered her to have no contact with the alleged victims or with her co-defendants, except in court.

Steven Kendall of Goshen was also released after pleading not guilty to two counts of witness intimidation, two counts of conspiracy, and two counts of violating an abuse prevention order.

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His attorney, Thomas Estes, asked Goodwin to allow his client to have contact with his son. He said he planned to file a motion to dismiss the charges, saying the facts of Steven Kendall’s case were less serious than the charges would suggest.

Odierna pushed back on Estes’ characterization, describing Keane Kendall as “extremely emotionally manipulative” in getting his parents to do something they knew was against the law after he was jailed.

After some back and forth, Goodwin agreed to order no contact between father and son until after the June 25 hearing, and no contact over anything to do with the case afterward.