Seven UMass Students Face Charges Following Super Bowl Disturbance

AMHERST, Mass. – Seven UMass Amherst students were arraigned in Eastern Hampshire District Court over the last two days on charges related to the post-Super Bowl disturbance on campus on Feb. 4.

One student was charged with a felony of assault and battery on a police officer for allegedly throwing a chunk of ice that hit a UMass police officer in the arm. Michael P. Mahoney, 18, of Worcester, Mass., was also charged with rioting, failure to disperse and disorderly conduct.

Other students charged include:

Timothy B. Canning, 18, of Palmer, Mass., who was charged with rioting, disorderly conduct and failure to disperse.

Marc A. Griffiths, 20, of West Brookfield, Mass., who was charged with disorderly conduct.

Zachary B. Korff, 20, of Quincy, Mass., who was charged with disorderly conduct.

Jack H. McDermott, 19, of Weymouth, Mass., who was charged with disorderly conduct.

Joseph D. Neylon, 19, of North Chelmsford, Mass., who was charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.

Jordan E. Ortiz, 22, of Marshfield, Mass., who was charged with rioting, disorderly conduct and failure to disperse. Ortiz was arraigned on Feb. 5.

UMass Amherst also has initiated a prompt review of the matter under its student conduct process.

Based on federal privacy law, the university cannot share details about the cases of individuals, but it can offer a general overview of the conduct process for violations of the Code of Student Conduct.  If students are found responsible for a code violation, they face sanctions ranging from a reprimand and probation up to suspension or expulsion from the university.