Former College Student Gets 4 Years in Jail for Unprovoked 'Knockout' Attacks

A former Endicott College student was sentenced to four years in jail in connection to random, late-night attacks on fellow students in February.

Dillon Destefano, 20, of New Jersey, pleaded guilty to two counts of assault and battery causing serious bodily injury, assault and battery and witness intimidation. Salem Superior Court Judge Howard Whitehead handed down the sentence of four years in the House of Correction followed by three years of probation after Destefano pleaded guilty.

The case involved what some said was the “knockout game” where unsuspecting victims are targeted, often with a single sucker punch. Destefano was a sophomore at the Hale Street college at time of the attacks.

In the early morning hours of Feb. 2, Destefano had been drinking and was walking around the Endicott College campus with two friends, according to Assistant District Attorney Jay Gubitose. In three separate incidents, he randomly and “without provocation or warning” punched three classmates in the face, Gubitose would have told a jury had the case gone to trial.

One of the victims suffered from a shattered jaw and had to have his mouth wired shut for weeks. Another victim had shattered orbital bones and the third victim suffered a swollen lip. After the attacks, Destefano also threatened a witness not to tell anyone what he saw resulting in the witness intimidation charge.

He received credit for 181 days he has already served in jail.

During the sentencing, Destefano was ordered to stay away and have no contact with the victims and witnesses and while on probation, plus remain drug and alcohol free, submit to random screens and undergo a mental health evaluation.

He will also have to pay restitution for the out-of-pocket medical expenses of the victims. The exact amount is yet-to-be determined.

“These were unprovoked random attacks on unsuspecting victims and will never be tolerated,” said Essex District Attorney Jonathan W. Blodgett in announcing the sentence.

The defendant was represented by attorneys Thomas Kiley and William Cintolo.