No charges over chemicals in South Hadley residence

Staff Report

Published: 04-20-2023 4:02 PM

BELCHERTOWN — A 33-year-old South Hadley man won’t face any charges related to chemicals found in his apartment after a multi-agency hazmat response to Riverboat Village on Sunday.

Paul C. Traficante has been charged with possession of a large capacity magazine and improper storage of a firearm. He pleaded not guilty to the charges at his arraignment this week before Eastern Hampshire District Court Judge William Rooney.

When police entered Traficante’s apartment shortly before 1 p.m. Sunday, they discovered legal but potentially dangerous substances including hydrogen peroxide, sulfuric acid and potassium nitrate, as well as propane tanks, according to the Northwestern district attorney’s office.

Officials said there was no evidence he was engaging in any criminal conduct with the chemicals.

“It does appear, based on his statements and our investigation, that he was using these items to strip gold from computer keyboards, and there was evidence of that in the apartment,” Assistant District Attorney Andrew Covington told Western Mass News.

A subsequent search of the apartment turned up an unsecured weapon, ammunition and three loaded magazines, prosecutors said.

Rooney maintained Traficante’s bail at $250, which was set over the weekend following his arrest, along with conditions:

Article continues after...

Yesterday's Most Read Articles

More than 130 arrested at pro-Palestinian protest at UMass
‘Knitting treasure’ of the Valley: Northampton Wools owner spreads passion for ancient pastime
UMass student group declares no confidence in chancellor
Guest columnist Josh Silver: Northampton school budget — Let’s start with kindness, accuracy and respect
With Jones project in question, Amherst won’t sign lease for temporary digs
UMass graduation speaker Colson Whitehead pulls out over quashed campus protest

■that he not be allowed to have a license to carry a weapon;

■that he not possess any type of firearms or ammunition, or knives or swords; and

■that he not construct or possess any setup that could be construed as a chemistry lab or a place to conduct scientific tests or manufacture chemicals.

Traficante was ordered to return to court for a pretrial conference May 23.

]]>