Swampscott Man Convicted of Biting Off Part of Man's Nose

Kenneth Michaud, 41, of Swampscott was sentenced to three to five years in prison Monday after he was convicted of biting off part of his former business partner’s nose during a fight outside a Revere restaurant, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

Last week a Suffolk Superior Court jury last week found Michaud guilty of mayhem and assault and battery causing serious bodily injury for the 2012 incident at Renzo Brick Oven Pizzeria in Revere. 

In 2012, Michaud was recently retired as an Essex County Sheriff's Department corrections officer.

Suffolk Superior Court Judge Kimberly Budd also imposed three years of probation, during which time Michaud must undergo substance abuse evaluation and any treatment deemed necessary, remain alcohol-free, receive anger management counseling, stay away and have no contact with the victim, and pay restitution, Conley said.

On May 2, 2012, Michaud and his business partner, a 43-year-old Revere man, met at a Revere restaurant to discuss dissolving their auto sales business. The men became involved in a verbal argument, the evidence showed, and both left the restaurant shortly before 11 p.m, the district attorney said.  Once outside, Michaud wrapped his arm around the victim’s neck and dragged him behind the restaurant. 

Michaud punched the victim repeatedly in the face and strangled him until he could be heard gasping for air by a witness. During the course of the beating, Michaud threatened the victim and claimed to be a member of the Hell’s Angels. 

He then bit off the tip of the victim’s nose before the man was able to escape into the restaurant, where he collapsed, the district attorney said. 

The victim underwent two surgeries to reattach the part of his nose that had been ripped off and suffered migraines, blurred vision, and dizziness as a result of the attack, the district attorney said.

The defendant's lawyer, Gary Zerola, told Swampscott Patch in an earlier interview that the allegations were "absolutely false" and his client was attacked by the "so-called victim."

Michaud's lawyer said his client was attacked by the man outside the restaurant.