February 1, 2018 -Springfield- Hampden District Attorney Anthony D. Gulluni today announced the sentencing of Adam Bartlett, 39, for his role in the armed robbery of a Rite Aid in Chicopee in November of 2015, after which he led police on an approximately 75 mile chase crisscrossing the state. He has been found guilty by a Hamden Superior Court Jury on charges of: Armed Robbery, Assault and Battery with a Dangerous Weapon, Attempt to Commit a Crime, Resisting Arrest and Failure to Stop for Police.

As a result of the guilty verdicts, Bartlett has been sentenced to 3 ½ years in jail minus time served and a lengthy probation term. The Commonwealth requested a state prison sentence of five to seven years, followed by three years probation.

On November 27, 2015, Adam Bartlett entered a Rite Aid in Chicopee and claimed he was armed and demanded oxycodone. A store employee retrieved three bottles, all of which contained a tracking device and no actual opioids. His wife, Rebecca Bartlett, waited outside in the car.

The Chicopee Police Department was alerted to the robbery and immediately attempted to locate the suspects. When located, the suspects took off at a high rate of speed on the Massachusetts Turnpike. This chase went on for about 75 miles, at times, at speeds well over 100 mph. Massachusetts State Police called dozens of cruisers to the chase and attempted several times to stop the vehicle using objects and other techniques. After a long, harrowing, and very dangerous affair, the suspects were eventually apprehended when their vehicle ran out of gas in Framingham.

Commenting on the conviction, Hampden District Attorney Anthony D. Gulluni stated, “My thanks to the Chicopee Police Department and the Massachusetts State Police for their successful apprehension and arrest of the defendant. I also thank and applaud Assistant District Attorney Nina Vivenzio for the successful prosecution of the case. Mr. Bartlett’s crimes were motivated by addiction and he has since made efforts toward recovery, for which I commend him. While my administration has been at the leading edge of the fight against addiction, which has included many progressive programs for those in its clutches, in this case, with such serious crimes that endangered many police officers and many innocent civilians, we had to focus on law enforcement. The safety of the general public is our first priority. ”

Adam Bartlett’s wife, Rebecca, plead guilty this past November to her role in the robbery. She received 2 ½ years in jail along with three years probation

Adam Bartlett was a former Hadley Police Officer, who resigned for personal reasons in 2013.

Assistant District Attorney Nina Vivenzio represented the Commonwealth in this matter.