Pittsfield, Massachusetts Man Arrested on Child Rape Charges

On Tuesday, the Berkshire County Law Enforcement Task Force executed an arrest warrant on 20-year old Lucius Copeland, of Pittsfield, as part of an investigation into multiple sexual assault allegations.
The Berkshire District Attorney's Office's newly created Violent Crime Task Force established probable cause to arrest Copeland on two counts of aggravated rape and a single count of rape of a child. Law enforcement suspects Copeland of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old and a 14-year-old girl over the summer.
Investigators believe that there may be other victims who have not reported additional sexual assaults and ask any other victims to contact the Berkshire State Police Detective Unit at 413-499-1112.
The Pittsfield Police Department began an in-depth investigation into two alleged rapes occurring in Pittsfield in the summer. Subsequently, law enforcement in other Berkshire County jurisdictions opened similar investigations, leading to a referral to the Berkshire Violent Crime Task Force.

The Violent Crime Task Force made this arrest thanks to brave young women who had the courage to share deeply personal and traumatic events with their local police. This investigation remains open and other victims should have confidence that law enforcement will support you and will seek justice and accountability. I thank the officers investigating this case for their ongoing careful work. Violence against women and girls in Berkshire County is the most devastating public safety challenge
that we face as a community. This type of violence should be unthinkable and I will use every tool at my disposal to end the culture of violence against women, girls, and other vulnerable survivors. Holding perpetrators accountable using enhanced investigation capabilities of the Berkshire Violent Crime TaskForce is a critical tool in building a culture of safety and justice.

District Attorney Andrea Harrington

Central Berkshire District Court arraigned Copeland virtually on Tuesday. Judge Paul Smyth scheduled a dangerousness hearing for Tuesday, January 4.