Assault Archives

2006

2/06

High School Soccer Referee Attacked By Parent

Soccer referee Jeffrey Rousseau, a Hartford, Conn., police officer who lives in Springfield, Mass., never saw his attacker coming last Oct. 26. Martin Smith allegedly sucker-punched Rousseau as he and the other official were walking to their cars following a high school boys’ soccer game between Central and Westfield high schools.

"I saw nothing at all," said Rousseau, a 14-year referee. "Everyone said he hit me from behind, in front of 40 people."

Rousseau, 28, was knocked unconscious for around 30 seconds as a result of the attack. He was transported to Mercy Medical Center. He suffered a dislocated jaw and a mild concussion. He filed an assault complaint in Springfield District Court Oct. 28, 2005, against Smith, 41, who is a parent of two players from Central. As of presstime, the incident was still under investigation.

2005

SOCCER — Soccer referee Jeffrey Rousseau, a Hartford, Conn., police officer who lives in Springfield, Mass., never saw his attacker coming Oct. 26, 2005. Martin Smith allegedly sucker-punched Rousseau as he and the other official were walking to their cars following a high school boys’ soccer game between Central and Westfield high schools. Rousseau, 28, was knocked unconscious for around 30 seconds as a result of the attack. He was transported to Mercy Medical Center. He suffered a dislocated jaw and a mild concussion. He filed an assault complaint in Springfield District Court Oct. 28, 2005, against Smith, 41, who is a parent of two players from Central.

9/05

Assault on Referee Costs a Coach His Job

In the wake of his alleged assault on a referee, Michael Nugnes lost his job as a high school hockey coach. Nugnes, 36, a resident of Barnstable, Mass., resigned as coach of the Barnstable High School squad after assaulting William Ahern, 48, of West Bridgewater.

On April 6, Nugnes was playing in a Massachusetts men’s adult league playoff game when he was sent off the ice for tripping. After serving out the penalty, Nugnes returned to his team’s bench, where he and his teammates berated Ahern.

A few minutes later, Nugnes returned to the ice and allegedly tripped Ahern from behind. According to a police report, Nugnes jumped on top of Ahern, gouged the referee’s eyes, knocked off his helmet and repeatedly banged Ahern’s head on the ice. Other players had to pull Nugnes off of Ahern.

Dottie Larkin, the manager of the ice arena, said Nugnes "obviously flipped out." She said the rink insists that users exhibit good sportsmanship. "I’m just devastated by this," Larkin said. "I’m very sad to say (Nugnes) will not be allowed back in this rink."

Ahern’s head and facial injuries were treated at Cape Cod Hospital and he was released later that night. Witnesses said Ahern briefly lost consciousness during the assault.

Nugnes resigned his coaching position the day after his arrest for assault and battery.

HOCKEY – Michael Nugnes, 36, a resident of Barnstable, Mass., resigned as hockey coach of the Barnstable High School squad after assaulting William Ahern, 48, of West Bridgewater, Mass. On April 6, 2005, Nugnes was playing in a Massachusetts men’s adult league playoff game when he was sent off the ice for tripping. After serving out the penalty, Nugnes returned to his team’s bench, where he and his teammates berated Ahern. A few minutes later, Nugnes returned to the ice and allegedly tripped Ahern from behind. According to a police report, Nugnes jumped on top of Ahern, gouged the referee’s eyes, knocked off his helmet and repeatedly banged Ahern’s head on the ice. Other players had to pull Nugnes off of Ahern.

2004

6/04

Hockey Coach Gets Banned for Attack on Ref

The bad news for a youth hockey coach who allegedly grabbed a referee during a game is that he’s banned from the Massachusetts Hockey Association, but the good news for that coach is he will avoid criminal charges. The Massachusetts Hockey Association announced March 9 that it permanently banned from the league Paul Johnson, an assistant coach for Melrose, for allegedly attacking referee Mark Ceruolo, 19, during a Feb. 29 youth league game. It’s the first time in 20 years the association has banned a coach. Johnson allegedly went after Ceruolo because he was upset the game was not stopped when his son, who plays for Melrose, went down on the ice. Johnson avoided facing criminal charges because Ceruolo did not want to pursue the charges. The referee declined to testify against Johnson at the March 9 probable cause hearing. "He just wants to move on," said John P. Morris, Ceruolo’s attorney. "He realizes that people take this stuff way too seriously. He hopes that people realize that it’s only a game."

HOCKEY – The Massachusetts Hockey Association announced March 9, 2004, that it permanently banned from the league Paul Johnson, an assistant coach for Melrose, for allegedly attacking referee Mark Ceruolo, 19, during a February 2004 youth league game. It’s the first time in 20 years the association has banned a coach. Johnson allegedly went after Ceruolo because he was upset the game was not stopped when his son, who plays for Melrose, went down on the ice. Johnson avoided facing criminal charges because Ceruolo did not want to pursue the charges.

2003

5/03

Coach Ordered to Umpire

WEST NEWBURY, Mass. – The officiating ranks in Massachusetts are about to increase by one, and it’s the result of a unique recruiting tool – a mandatory court order.

A brawl between a coach and umpire at a baseball game between Rockport and Pentucket high schools on April 30, 2002, resulted in an unusual sentence handed down.

James Parisi, who was filling in as coach for the Rockport High School baseball team April 30, the day of the fight, admitted in Newburyport District Court in late February to deliberately head-butting umpire Dennis Hansbury (see "The News" 12/02). Parisi was ordered by Judge Michael Pomerole to perform 100 hours of community service by serving as an umpire at about 50 Little League and Senior League games – for no pay. That averages out to about two games a week, the Essex County District Attorney’s office said.

"In hindsight, it is pretty humorous. … He’ll get a pretty quick idea of how it feels to be behind the plate," said Richard McClure, Hansbury’s lawyer.

Hansbury, 47, was in Newburyport District Court on Feb. 27 when Parisi, 58, admitted to sufficient facts in the assault and battery and disorderly conduct charges against him. According to Essex County District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett, Hansbury played a role in determining Parisi’s sentencing.

"People need to remind themselves that sporting events at this level take place for youth to have fun and to learn," Blodgett said in a written statement.

The incident began as the players were shaking hands after the game. Parisi and Hansbury started yelling at each other, then bumping chests and finally brawling. West Newbury police were called in. They charged Parisi with assault.

Statements provided to police offer differing reports of the confrontation, and the fight that followed. The accounts are divided along team lines.

According to some eyewitness accounts in the West Newbury police report, Parisi was yelling at Hansbury and another umpire for most of the game at Pentucket’s field. Hansbury told him to calm down several times, reported Massachusetts State Police Captain John Consigli, a spectator at the game.

The police report states that after the game-ending call, Parisi confronted Hansbury and called him a "bum" and that Hansbury replied with a verbal threat.

The two then started bumping chests. Fists started flying, and Hansbury wound up at the bottom of a heap, the police report states.

Consigli told police the umpire was "head-butted" by Parisi and then attacked by Parisi and others.

Parisi’s lawyer, Joseph Orlando of Gloucester, later called Parisi the victim, saying that Hansbury broke Parisi’s nose after whacking him with a facemask, a charge Hansbury denies.

Parisi, who was filling in as coach for his son, John Parisi, who was laid up with a back injury, now must fulfill his 100 hours of umpiring before the incident will be wiped from his record, Judge Pomerole ruled. Rockport High School officials have told him that he can never be involved with any of the school’s sports again.

Hansbury, who said he was paid $62 to umpire the game, called the incident a "nightmare," and said he’s not pleased with the outcome. Since the incident, he said he has been to court five times, and in four of those sessions, Parisi denied assaulting him. But on the morning of the trial, Parisi admitted to the charges.

"He played the system all the way to the end," said Hansbury, who said he now has $5,000 in legal fees.

"There was no acceptance of responsibility, no apology, and then he pleads guilty to this … given what he did, he should have spent 30 days in jail," he said.

"I’m not going to umpire regularly. I’m going to take time off," said Hansbury, who has been a high school umpire for 14 seasons and has worked games for colleges and the Cape Cod League as well.

"It’s been a bad experience," said Hansbury, "and I have a bad taste in my mouth over the whole thing."

Contributing sources: The Boston Globe, Associated Press

2002

2/02

Administrator Gets Probation for Rink Assault

Youth hockey administrator Mark Haroules, 40, from Littleton, Mass., was fined and given probation for his involvement in a postgame fight with an official July 27. Accused of attacking state police trooper Joseph Hilton who refereed the game, Haroules admitted guilt Dec. 28 to two counts of assault and battery and one count of resisting arrest and disorderly conduct. Besides the court sentences, Haroules is banned from coaching youth hockey for an unspecified period of time.

HOCKEY – The officiating ranks in Massachusetts are about to increase by one, and it’s the result of a unique recruiting tool – a mandatory court order. A brawl between a coach and umpire at a baseball game between Rockport and Pentucket high schools on April 30, 2002, resulted in an unusual sentence handed down. James Parisi, who was filling in as coach for the Rockport High School baseball team the day of the fight, admitted in Newburyport District Court in late February 2003 to deliberately head-butting umpire Dennis Hansbury. Parisi was ordered by Judge Michael Pomerole to perform 100 hours of community service by serving as an umpire at about 50 Little League and Senior League games – for no pay.

2001

HOCKEY – Youth hockey administrator Mark Haroules, 40, from Littleton, Mass., was fined and given probation for his involvement in a postgame fight with an official July 27, 2001. Accused of attacking state police trooper Joseph Hilton who refereed the game, Haroules admitted guilt Dec. 28, 2001, to two counts of assault and battery and one count of resisting arrest and disorderly conduct. Besides the court sentences, Haroules is banned from coaching youth hockey for an unspecified period of time.

2000

SOFTBALL - A softball umpire was hit in the groin by a thrown water jug and nearly run over with a motor vehicle, following a controversial call, during a Bridgewater Slow Pitch Softball League game, between East Side and O'Brien's Pub. Police have charged a man, but declined to name him. (08/11/00)

HOCKEY - A parent, upset that the "pick-up" game being supervised by an adult is "too rough", confronts the adult supervisor in the hallway of the facility after the game and "beats him to death" in front of several children and adult on-lookers. Thomas Junta was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter with sentence pending. (June 2000)

1999

HOCKEY - A High School senior hockey player, from Somerville H.S., pled guilty to assault and battery charges, after head-butting and throwing several punches in a referee's face, at a game in Brighton, MA. The referee was a state police officer from Needham, MA. The player faces criminal charges with a maximum penalty of 2 1/2 years in jail and a $500 fine. (3/26/99)

1988

FOOTBALL - An assistant coach of a Pop Warner football team, pleaded sufficient evidence to charges that he assaulted a referee during a game in 1987, in Walpole, MA. The coached grabbed the referee in a head-lock and wrestled him to the ground after disagreeing with a call. The coach was placed on one year of probation and fined $215. (6/88)