Hank Nuwer, Author; Hazing Deaths Database

Verdict reached in
Wilson hazing case
No explanation was given for the
decision

Updated: Thursday, 09 Jul 2009, 4:20 PM EDT
Published : Thursday, 09 Jul 2009, 12:00 PM EDT

* Melissa Holmes
* Posted by Emma Orn

WILSON, N.Y. (WIVB) – Two of three players in the Wilson High school hazing case have been acquitted on all charges. The controversial case focused on alleged horseplay on the team bus last year.

Thursday morning, Town Justice George R. Burger ruled finding the defendants not guilty of forcible touching, child endangerment and first-and second-degree hazing.

No explanation was given for the decision. The attorney for one of the players contacted News 4 this morning. “All it says is, it lists the counts and says not guilty,” said P. Andrew Vona, attorney for one of the players.

On Wednesday the vindicated teacher-coaches held a celebration and news conference on their acquittal, saying the overzealous investigation ruined their reputations.

We’ll have much more on this story on News 4 and on WIVB.com throughout the day.

****

New York State Police Press Release

Albany, NY -July, 9, 2009 – Statement from State Police Chief Inspector, Colonel Anthony Ellis regarding Town of Wilson hazing investigation:

“Allegations were made by Mr. Mike Paul, that the State Police conducted the investigation into the Wilson hazing allegations in an inappropriate manner. As a result of Mr. Paul’s allegations, a thorough and exhaustive incident review was conducted. The review found all investigative and police actions concerning this matter were in accordance with State Police Rules and Regulations. The review concluded that a thorough and proper investigation was conducted and the matter is now closed.

“State Police Investigators conducted a thorough and complete investigation into the Wilson hazing allegations. The arrests which followed were based on probable cause. The investigative file, sworn statements of witnesses and victims were submitted to the Niagara County District Attorney, who accepted the State Police investigation and proceeded with the case. This case was prosecuted according to the laws of the State of New York.”

Two boys found not guilty of hazing

By Elizabeth Merrill
ESPN.com
(Archive)

Updated: July 9, 2009, 4:36 PM ET

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Two of three boys charged in a hazing case in Wilson, N.Y., have been found not guilty.

A Town Torn Apart

Varsity baseball players as old as 18, riding on the same bus with junior varsity players as young as 13 — what happened on that bus in April in upstate New York changed the lives of many of the players, coaches and parents in their small community of Wilson. Story

OTL: Reporter Steve Cyphers visits Wilson and talks with the parents of the victims. Watch

Andrew Vona, the attorney for one of the varsity baseball players initially charged with felony counts of aggravated sexual abuse, was informed in a written decision Thursday that his client was found not guilty in a non-jury trial on charges of hazing, forcible touching, and misdemeanor child abuse.

Earlier this week, former Wilson baseball coaches Thomas Baia and William Atlas were cleared on charges of endangering the welfare of a child. The Buffalo News reported that the other accused baseball player pleaded guilty June 9 to child endangerment and has yet to be sentenced.

“It’s been a long time coming,” said Vona, whose 17-year-old client is back in school at Wilson. “I think it’s absolutely the right decision. Finally, my client can exhale and the whole community of Wilson can get back to their lives.”

The 2008 Wilson High baseball season was canceled after three varsity players were charged with abusing at least three members of the junior varsity team on a bus traveling back from a road game on April 17, 2008.

Two of the victims are still going forward with a civil suit against the Wilson school district, their lawyer, Terry Connors, said.

Mike Paul, a spokesman for Baia and Atlas, called the allegations “a lie from the pit of hell.” He said when word came Thursday that the charges against two of the boys had been dropped, the coaches cried.

Here is the link to the Wilson High School press conference by baseball coaches Thomas Baia and William Atlas

http://www.niagara-gazette.com/local/local_story_189202948.html

A Wilson town judge has found two high school baseball players not guilty on all charges against them including hazing, according to a source close involved with the case.

The two student athletes were charged with endangering the welfare of a child, foreable touching and hazing.

The charges were connected to a New York State Police investigation into an alleged hazing incident in the back of the team bus in April of 2008.

On Monday, all charges against two Wilson High School baseball coaches were dropped. The New York State police are also conducting an internal investigation into their handling of the case. (see related story)

Two On Your Side is speaking with the people involved in the case. We will update this story and have more information on Channel Two News First at Five.

Published: July 08, 2009 08:44 pm print this story

HAZING CASE: Civil suit looms for Wilson School District
By Bill Wolcott
Niagara Gazette

Lawyers for the alleged victims in the Wilson baseball team case are preparing to take their civil lawsuits to court against the school district.

A jury trial made up from a Niagara County pool is expected. Attorney Terry Connors represents parents of two junior varsity players. Chris O’Brien and Steve Boyd represent the parents of one. The lawyers would not divulge what monetary damages the families are seeking, and no trial date for the lawsuit has been set.

“If there were a way for the jury to turn back the clock, the parents would take that in a heartbeat,” O’Brien said Wednesday. “No one wants to be involved in a lawsuit.”

At the coaches’ news conference Wednesday, Kary Sidote, mother of player defendant Christopher Sidote Jr., called the civil suit “baloney” and said the lawsuit is about money.

“They’ve even put their kids on the line for cash,” she said. “You want to know what the main motivation is? They want money.”

Chris Sidote Sr. offered: “The student body has moved past it. It’s the parents.”

However, O’Brien said his firm has made overtures to the school district and tried to get the matter resolved short of a lawsuit. “Whatever the jury decides, we don’t want a penny more,” the lawyer said.

O’Brien said the families of the victims have incurred expenses, including counseling, since charges were brought against three varsity players and two coaches. Connors said the civil suit was not affected by charges being dismissed against coaches William Atlas and Thomas Baia by Town Justice George Berger.

O’Brien said the facts show that boys were being hazed on the back of the bus, that one of the charged boys had been hazed before, and that there were no coaches on the back of the bus. He asserts there was negligence, and that the civil case is against the school district, not the players or the coaches.

“We stand by our kids,” Connors said. “We stand by their statements and we’re moving forward.

“We’re going to be filing a lawsuit in next two weeks.”