Man charged with manslaughter in beating at youth hockey game

READING, Mass. - A father accused of beating another man to death at a children's hockey game surrendered on a manslaughter charge Monday.

Thomas Junta, 42, had originally been charged with assault in the beating of Michael Costin. But prosecutors upgraded the charge to manslaughter in the wake of Costin's death, which Middlesex District Attorney Martha Coakley described as a ''wanton and reckless assault and battery.''

Manslaughter carries a possible sentence of 20 years imprisonment.

Junta allegedly beat Costin unconscious Wednesday at the Burbank Ice Arena in Reading as children as young as 10 watched. Costin, 40, was declared brain dead Thursday and removed from a ventilator Friday.

Junta's mother told Monday's Boston Globe that her son has expressed remorse.

''At least it's not murder, thank God almighty,'' said Mary Junta. ''I'm so sorry the whole thing happened - manslaughter is no joke, either.''

Costin had been out on the ice with a group of youngsters, all about 10 years old, including his three sons and Junta's son. The hockey game was supposed to be non-contact, but police say Junta got agitated when things got rough and some of the players engaged in checking.

Junta and Costin began arguing with each other. A rink manager threw Junta out, but he returned. Junta, who is 6-foot-1 and weighs 275 pounds, knocked the 6-foot, 150-pound Costin to the floor and punched him in the head, police said. Another adult broke up the fight, but Costin was unconscious.

Costin's friends described him as a dedicated parent and a peacemaker, but he had numerous run-ins with the law, and served time in prison.

Costin was arraigned 36 times between 1979 and 1995 on charges ranging from assault and battery on a police officer, to illegal gun possession to violation of restraining orders. He was sent to prison seven times between 1983 and 1995, serving anywhere from 30 day to 15 months at a time, according to the state's Criminal Offender Registry.

Junta does not have a criminal record.