Three suspects sentenced for Lynnfield man’s beating

LYNNFIELD – Three of four suspects who brutally assaulted a Lynnfield man near the University of Massachusetts-Amherst campus were sentenced to jail Wednesday.Kevin Maresco, a former UMass hockey player who is now 22 years old, of Lynnfield, was struck several times with a tire iron on May 16, 2007 after an argument broke out between a group of college-aged men outside a party on Amity Street in Amherst.All four suspects have since pleaded guilty to assault charges.Jason Becker, 23, of Burtonsville, Md., admitted he was the one who struck Maresco with the tire iron several times in the head. He was sentenced to one year in jail after his admission to aggravated assault and battery with a dangerous weapon among other charges.Folarinde Aiyeku, 23, of Methuen, was sentenced to six months in jail for assault and battery.Michael Vaz, 23, of Springfield, was sentenced to four months for assault and battery.Justin Etter, 23, of Brockton, also pleaded guilty to assault and battery but won’t be sentenced until Oct. 2.All three suspects will serve three years of probation.The incident left Maresco, a 2005 graduate of Andover Academy, hospitalized with severe trauma to his face and head, including multiple broken bones in his face and skull and a broken neck.Maresco transferred to Manhattanville College in New York state after his recovery and now plays for its Division 3 hockey team.(Material from the Associated Press was used in this report.)