Springfield man guilty of biting off coach's ear

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (AP) — A Springfield man has been sentenced to up to four years in jail after being found guilty of biting off part of a youth basketball coach's ear.

Timothy Forbes was convicted Tuesday in Hampden Superior Court of assault and battery causing serious bodily injury and mayhem.

Prosecutors say the 34-year-old Forbes attacked Jose Feliciano after a championship game between teams of fifth-and sixth-graders last March.

Feliciano was coach of the winning team. Forbes' two children played for the losing team. Feliciano testified that the attack was unprovoked.

A doctor who performed reattachment surgery on Feliciano's ear said about two inches of the total five inches of the ridge of the ear was gone.

Forbes' attorney said his client did not mean to bite off the ear.

Cox Media Group