ATHOL—Orange District Court Judge Laurie MacLeod set bail in the cases of four people charged in connection with an assault in which two people were held against their will for four hours in a house in Athol, according the Northwestern District Attorney’s office.

One of the victims of the alleged assault on Feb. 1 reported the incident to Athol Police the following day and in the ensuing investigation, six people were arrested. Each of the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges in Orange District Court on Friday, Feb. 17.

The cases of the following suspects were continued until Feb. 21 for hearings on the Commonwealth’s motions to hold the defendants without bail pending trial, with the following results:

Franklin Payne, 46, of Athol, facing charges of armed robbery, assault to maim, kidnapping, stealing by confining or putting in fear, assault and battery by dangerous weapon, assault and battery and conspiracy. He was ordered released upon posting $2,500 cash bail and ordered to wear a GPS monitoring device, stay away from Athol, have no contact with the victims and reside in Randolph with his mother. The case was continued until April 18.

April Mccassie, 41, of Athol, facing charges of armed robbery, kidnapping, stealing by confining or putting in fear, assault and battery, and conspiracy, was ordered released upon posting $2,000 cash bail and ordered to have no contact with the victims. Her case was continued until April 28.

Brian Chamberland, 38, of Athol, facing charges of armed robbery, kidnapping, stealing by confining or putting in fear, assault and battery, and conspiracy, was ordered released upon posting $1,000 cash bail under the condition that he have no contact with the victims.

The dangerousness hearing for James Murphy, 30, of Athol, facing charges of armed robbery, kidnapping, stealing by confining or putting in fear and assault and battery was postponed until Friday, Feb. 24.

Two other suspects in the case, Ronald Mitchell, 32, of Athol, and Marlene Hill, 44, of Orange, both charged with kidnapping, unarmed robbery, breaking and entering with intent to commit larceny in a building and conspiracy were released on personal recognizance with conditions they stay away and have no contact with the victims; andremain drug and alcohol free with random screens at their arraignments Friday.

Athol Police worked with State Police Detectives attached to the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office on the investigation. Northwestern Assistant District Attorney Joseph Webber is prosecuting the cases.

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