10 Charges Leveled Against Berkshire County Man In Alleged Kidnapping And Murder Attempt

DALTON, Massachusetts – Due to an event that happened on Thursday night, a Dalton man is being charged with numerous serious crimes.

at an incident at his home on Thursday night, Nicholas Lighten, 43, of Dalton, reportedly attempted to kidnap and kill the victim. Lighten was charged with ten counts when he appeared at Central Berkshire District Court on Friday.

Lighten and the victim got into a fight at his Dalton home on East Housatonic Street, which is allegedly where the events that led to Lighten’s accusations started.

Reportedly, Lighten abducted the victim and dragged him down the basement, where he tried to hand him over and accidentally shot the victim in the upper thigh.

After resolving his transportation issues, the victim was treated at Berkshire Medical Centre and is anticipated to recover.

Lighten is set to be held without bond following the arraignment until a dangerousness hearing on May 15.

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Regarding what happened at his house on May 9, Lighten was charged with ten different offences in all:

Armed Assault with a Dangerous Weapon (Brass Knuckles) Armed-Firearm Kidnapping
Using a Dangerous Weapon in an Attack and Battery. 500-foot radius around a building for firearm discharge; one prior violent drug offence combined with a firearm infraction
Carrying a Weapons Licence Without a FID Card.

Class B drug possession; possession of ammunition without a FID card; and possession of a firearm in a felony—second offence. The Berkshire DA’s Office offered extra support on the case, but Dalton Police assumed the lead in the investigation with Pittsfield Police’s help.