Former USC tight end Bryce Dixon sentenced to six years in state prison

Former USC tight end Bryce Dixon was sentenced to six years in state prison Thursday in connection with a two-day series of violent robberies earlier this year.

Dixon, 19, pleaded no contest to three charges in Los Angeles Superior Court: carjacking and two counts of second-degree robbery, according to the L.A. County district attorney’s office. He also admitted to using a knife during a robbery.

“After extensive discussions with the district attorney’s office and working with them, I believe we arrived at a deal that will allow him to put this behind him and move on with his life while still being a young man,” said Joshua Ritter, Dixon’s attorney.

Dixon, one of the country’s top-ranked tight ends coming out of high school in Ventura, had faced a maximum of more than 18 years in prison on nine charges that included assault with a deadly weapon.

Former Louisiana State lineman Trey Lealaimatafao, 19, has pleaded not guilty to similar charges in the case.

Court papers and police documents described a spree that started Jan. 18 in Camarillo, Oxnard and Ventura, then moved into Los Angeles.

In the first of seven alleged incidents in the area, three men demanded a person’s cell phone and other items at 1:40 a.m. on Jan. 19 near Los Angeles Trade Tech College. One of the men carried a black metal pipe. Another had a knife. When the victim declined to hand over their phone, they were punched in the face.

Forty-five minutes later, three men exited a black GMC Terrain SUV and rushed a person walking into their home. One of the men punched the victim in the face. Another held a knife toward the victim’s throat while they were on the ground.

Later that morning, one of the suspects “holding a dark metal object” approached a man in his car. Another man punched the victim in the face.

“In fear of his life, the victim got out of his vehicle and attempted to run inside his residence,” the police documents said.

One of the suspects drove off in the victim’s car, then collided with another vehicle.

The documents don’t describe the alleged role each suspect played in the incidents.

USC expelled Dixon in May after two alleged incidents of sexual misconduct in 2014.

Dixon challenged the expulsion in L.A. Superior Court and a judge reinstated him, but he wasn’t permitted to return to USC’s football team.

LSU kicked out Lealaimatafao last June after three off-field incidents. His next appearance in L.A. Superior Court is scheduled for May 5.

nathan.fenno@latimes.com

Twitter: @nathanfenno

Times staff writer Gary Klein contributed to this report.