Daniels, 28, of Springfield, pleaded guilty to a charge of criminal contempt Wednesday in Hampden Superior Court.
SPRINGIELD - Brandon Daniels failure to show up to testify in a murder trial ended up costing him 141 days in jail.
Daniels, 28, of Springfield, pleaded guilty to a charge of criminal contempt Wednesday in Hampden Superior Court.
Judge Richard J. Carey accepted an agreed upon recommendation by prosecution and defense to sentence Daniels to 141 days, which is the time he has served in the Hampden County Correctional Center in Ludlow since his arrest.
Assistant District Attorney Eduardo Velazquez said Daniels, who was the prosecution’s crucial witness, was in a difficult situation since he knew both the victim and defendants in the trial.
But, he said, people need to honor their promise to the court when they tell a judge they will return to testify.
Defense lawyer Luke Ryan said Daniels was not “thumbing his nose to the court,” but had reason to believe testifying would put him in grave danger.
Both defendants in the case in which Daniels was to testify - the shooting death of Jerry Hughes III in Springfield - ended up pleading guilty to voluntary manslaughter.