Suspects jailed for brutal UMass assaults
By Dan O'Brien and Katie Huston, Collegian Staff
January 31, 2006 (Spring 2006 semester's "Back to School Issue")
Three of five men who were involved in brutally assaulting a group of University of Massachusetts students after a Red Sox World Series game in October 2004 received jail sentences last month.
Roger R. Menard, 20, 46 Eddy St., Ware, received 3 1/2 years in prison and four years of probation after he pleaded guilty to two counts of assault and battery with bodily injury, one count assault and battery, and one count disorderly conduct for severely beating three UMass students.
Jason A. Cancel, 21, of 24 Cummings Road, Ware; and Eric M. Koziol, 23, of 34 Cummings Road, Ware, received 2 1/2-year suspended prison sentences and four years of probation for their involvement in the fight. Both men pleaded guilty to one count of assault and battery and one count of disorderly conduct. They pleaded not guilty to two counts of assault and battery with bodily injury, and the charges were dropped.
In October, Timothy R. Lamora, 20, of 61 Glendale Circle, Chicopee, pleaded guilty to the same charges as Menard and received three years in prison and five years probation.
The last of the five men involved, Ryan Sinclair, of Ware, has a plea hearing scheduled for Feb. 3.
On Oct. 25, 2004, Sinclair, Lamora and Menard consumed alcohol and headed to UMass with a camcorder to see if riots were taking place, said Assistant District Attorney Michael A. Cahillane.
UMass students Brett J. Blanciforti, Donald Murphy and Brian Kelley encountered the three men outside of Washington dormitory in the Southwest Residential Area as they returned from getting food at Chicago Pizzaria. Lamora, Menard and Sinclair taunted the students, then jumped them and beat them severely, according to prosecutors.
At least one of the suspects filmed the assaults with the camcorder.
Cancel and Koziol were coming to UMass to visit their girlfriends and are not believed to have consumed alcohol. They happened upon the fight and got involved, according to Cahillane.
The three students were sent to Baystate Medical Center in Springfield with head injuries. Blanciforti, who was attacked by Menard, was found unconscious in a pool of blood and had to have 12 plates inserted into his face.
"I broke pretty much everything in my face," Blanciforti said while testifying in court. "They said it was like a puzzle putting it back together."
He was unable to open his eyes for a week, and his vision was impaired due to light sensitivity.
Kelley had two teeth knocked out and his jaw broken, requiring him to get a bone transplant. Murphy was also injured, suffering bruising and damage on the side of his face.
After the fight, Lamora, Sinclair and Menard "were hyped," according to court documents. They went to a party at the Townehouse Apartments in Amherst, where they showed the video to acquaintances and bragged about the fight.
Under the conditions of their probation, Cancel and Koziol must stay away from UMass Amherst, have no contact with the victims, maintain employment and pay restitution to the victims.
The five men knew each other from their hometown of Ware.
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Copyright Daniel O'Brien and the Massachusetts Daily Collegian. This may not be redistributed without written permission under United States law.