PITTSFIELD, Mass. — On the evening of Wednesday, May 17 Pittsfield Police responded to a 911 call for a reported attempted kidnapping.  

 

According to reports, Sharon Kranich approached a mother and her two children (a toddler and a baby)on North Street and immediately grabbed and assaulted the toddler. The mother called 911. While on the phone with 911, the defendant then attempted to take the toddler and baby away from the mother. 

 

Kranich moved ten to fifteen feet down the street with the children at which point the mother was able to secure both children back in her own custody. Kranich fled into a building. Shortly after Kranich was apprehended by Pittsfield Police.

 

Sharon Kranich, age 55, and no known local address, as charged with indecent assault and battery on a child under 14 and kidnapping. She was arraigned in Central Berkshire District Court on Thursday, May 18. 

 

At the arraignment, the defense council requested an evaluation for competency. The court then also ordered an evaluation on criminal responsibility (meaning an evaluation determining if a defendant is not responsible for the crimes they have been charged with due to a mental disease or mental defect).

 

Kranich was evaluated by the court clinic. The doctor found the defendant needed to be hospitalized at a facility for further evaluation. Kranich has been committed for a minimum of twenty days.

 

The court set a date of June 5 for a status report on the defendant's competency to stand trial. If the medical facility determines that additional time is needed to complete their evaluation the commitment can be extended for another twenty days.  If the medical facility determines Kranich is competent, she will be brought into the custody of the Berkshire County Sherriff's Department. In the case she is found competent, a dangerousness hearing may be heard on June 6.

 

Kranich has no known address in Berkshire County. She appears to have previously resided in Nevada. Kranich has a criminal history in Las Vegas, Nev. The most notable occurring in 2018 when Kranich pled guilty to child abuse/neglect in Eighth Judicial District Court in Clark County Nevada. 

 

1st Assistant Marianne Shelvey, assisted by Assistant District Attorney Andrew Giarolo. represented the Commonwealth. Victim Witness Advocate Director, Jane Kibby-Peirce, served as advocate on behalf of the District Attorney's Office. The Pittsfield Police Department were the responding law enforcement agent.