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Hazing News

State Police defend hazing investigation

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.”

By Hank Nuwer

Journalist Hank Nuwer tracks hazing deaths in fraternities and schools. Nuwer is the Alaska author of Hazing: Destroying Young Lives; Broken Pledges: The Deadly Rite of Hazing, High School Hazing, Wrongs of Passage and The Hazing Reader. In April of 2024, the Alaska Press Club awarded him first place in the Best Columnist division and Best Humorist, second place.

He has written articles or columns on hazing for the Sunday Times of India, Toronto Globe & Mail, Harper's Magazine, Orlando Sentinel, The Chronicle of Higher Education and the New York Times Sunday Magazine. His current book is Hazing: Destroying Young Lives from Indiana University Press. He is married to Malgorzata Wroblewska Nuwer of Warsaw, Poland and Fairbanks, Alaska. Nuwer is a former columnist for the Greenville (Ohio)Early Bird and former managing editor of the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner in Alaska.
Nuwer was named the Ohio Society of Professional Journalists columnist of the year in 2021 for his “After Darke” column in the Early Bird. He also won third place for the column in 2022 from the Indiana chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. He and his wife Gosia, recently of Union City, Ind., have owned 20 acres in Alaska for many years. “The move is a sort-of coming home for us,” said Nuwer. As a journalist, he’s written about the Alaskan Iditarod sled-dog race and other Alaska topics. Read his musings in his blog at Real Alaska Daily--http://realalaskadaily.com and in his weekly column "Far from Randolph" in the Winchester Star-Gazette of Randolph County, Indiana.

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