Four criminal charges have been brought against a 21-year-old Springfield man after allegedly trespassing for the third time on the 60-acre Leverett estate once owned by Yankee Candle founder Michael J. Kittredge II. Joshua M. Rucks-Smith pleaded not guilty in Orange District Court on Monday to charges including assault and battery on a police officer, trespassing, resisting arrest, and vandalizing property.
The incident began at 12:26 p.m. on Friday when a facility manager reported a man wearing a face mask on the Juggler Meadow Road property. According to a report filed by Leverett Police Officer Andrew Nepal, Rucks-Smith claimed he lived on the property. When Nepal informed him he was trespassing and ordered him to comply, Rucks-Smith began walking away, prompting Nepal to call for backup from the Massachusetts State Police and the Amherst Police Department.
A violent confrontation on a private roadway
The situation escalated as Officer Nepal followed Rucks-Smith in a cruiser for several minutes. Nepal reported that after exiting his vehicle and ordering the suspect to stop, Rucks-Smith turned around with a clenched fist and advanced toward him. Despite deploying a stun gun twice, Nepal was unable to incapacitate the suspect.
What followed was a physical struggle. Nepal reported that Rucks-Smith struck him with both fists, and the officer defended himself by striking back. During the fight, Nepal deployed pepper spray, but the officer accidentally made contact with the spray himself, resulting in temporary vision and respiratory issues.
Rucks-Smith managed to break away and continue walking before being apprehended upon the arrival of Amherst Police Officer Edward Bennington. While Leverett EMS evaluated Rucks-Smith, he declined treatment; meanwhile, EMS personnel had to help Officer Nepal wash the pepper spray from his eyes.
The delusion of ownership
While being transported to Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton, Rucks-Smith repeatedly referred to the former Kittredge compound as his own property. He also admitted, without being prompted, that he had “come at” Officer Nepal.
Leverett Police Sgt. Benjamin Peters noted in his report that this was the third time Rucks-Smith had trespassed on the site. When Peters informed him that he cannot enter property that does not belong to him, Rucks-Smith allegedly laughed and chuckled, stating that he would keep going back.
The physical evidence of the intrusion was clear. Officer Nepal obtained photographs showing that Rucks-Smith had entered the estate by prying open the south gate.
From a $23 million listing to a $4.55 million sale
The property at the center of this dispute is a sprawling complex that reflects the eccentric wealth of the late Michael J. Kittredge II, who died in 2019.
| Metric | 2022 Listing | May Sale |
|---|---|---|
| Asking/Sale Price | $23 Million | $4.55 Million |
| Owner/Buyer | Estate of M. Kittredge II | Juggler Meadow LLC |
The estate was purchased on May 26 by Juggler Meadow LLC, managed by David Reasoner, a PGA head professional from Saddle River, New Jersey. Reasoner intends to maintain the site as a private residence, a decision that effectively killed previous proposals to develop the land into a community of more than 400 homes.
The amenities of the property are vast, featuring a 55,000-square-foot spa building equipped with a sauna, steam room, and massage rooms, alongside a 4,000-square-foot gym. The grounds also include an indoor tennis court, a three-lane bowling alley, a video arcade with Skee-Ball, and an indoor water park complete with waterfalls and palm trees.
Outstanding warrants complicate Rucks-Smith release
Rucks-Smith is currently held at the Franklin County Jail and House of Correction on $100 bail. However, his release is complicated by more than just the Leverett charges. There is an active warrant for him from Springfield regarding resisting arrest and assault and battery on a police officer.
The case now moves toward a pretrial conference scheduled for Nov. 24 in Orange District Court.
