Pittsfield man found guilty of rape and witness intimidation; flees to Mexico during trial

PITTSFIELD, Mass. – Cesar Lagunas, 51, was found guilty of rape and witness intimidation Wednesday by a Berkshire County Superior Court jury, even as he fled to Mexico in the middle of the trial.

Lagunas, a former Pittsfield resident, was convicted of sexually assaulting a person on April 15, 2019, and making threats of blackmail to prevent the victim from reporting the crime. The Honorable Judge John Agostini presided over the trial and allowed it to continue in the absence of the defendant.

District Attorney Timothy Shugrew praised the victim’s persistence. “The survivor has shown extraordinary strength and resilience throughout this process,” Shugrue said in a statement.

Lagunas fled the country on Monday, November 11, two days before the sentencing. A warrant has been issued for his arrest and authorities are pursuing his extradition. The Pittsfield Police Department, Berkshire County District Attorney’s State Police Detective Unit, New York State Police and Homeland Security are cooperating on the case.

The Pittsfield Police Department was leading the investigation and the case was prosecuted by Chief of Child Abuse Unit Andrew Giarolo. Victim support was provided by Jane Kibbie-Pierce, director of victim witness advocacy for the Berkshire County Prosecutor’s Office.

Lagunas remains at large as law enforcement agencies attempt to return him to Massachusetts for sentencing.

The conviction of a fugitive leaves a dark mark on Berkshire County as authorities step up efforts to apprehend the convicted rapist.