subscribesubscriber servicescontact usabout ussite mapBuy a Classified
Tue, Feb 09 2010 

Published: June 28, 2009 12:36 am    print this story  

WILSON: Hazing trial to resume Monday

By Bill Wolcott
E-mail Bill

Lockport Union-Sun & Journal

WILSON — Witnesses for the prosecution took the stand at Wilson Town Court in the alleged hazing case Saturday, and more witnesses are expected when the closed trial for two 18-year-old defendants resumes Monday.

Meanwhile, a counselor for a public relations firm that specializes in rescuing reputations was in the wings, hoping to salvage the reputations of baseball coaches William M. Atlas and Thomas J. Baia. Atlas and Baia go on trial July 6 before Town Justice Town Justice George R. Berger. The coaches are charged with three counts of endangering the welfare of a child in the alleged hazing.

Witnesses for the defense may be called on Monday, according to Andrew Vona, the attorney for Christopher Sidote; and Kevin P. Shelby, the attorney for Colton Sherman. The third defendant, Geoffrey A. Seefeldt, 19, pleaded guilty on a plea deal that was taken in secret.

Sherman and Sidote, have been charged with forcible touching and first- and second-degree hazing. Whatever the decision of Berger, the record will be sealed. The defendants will not have a criminal record.

“I thought it went very well for the defense, but I don’t want to get into specifics, especially closed court,” Shelby said.

Mike Paul is president of MGP & Associates, a New York City firm specializing in crisis public relations and reputation management.

“This is not a hazing case,” Paul said. “It should never have been a hazing case, and that’s sad part about this case. A lot of reputations have been damaged as a result of these labels, and those labels started back in April of last year, and it started with law enforcement.”

Paul cited a news conference a week after the April 17, 2008, incident where a major with the state police was quoted as saying, “This is the worst case of sexual hazing that has happened in my career,” according to Paul. Paul claimed there has only been one case of sexual hazing in New York state in the past year, and it was not in Western New York.

The state police are investigating their own investigation, which began after the alleged incident on a school bus returning from a game in Niagara Falls.

“Be careful with your words. They hurt people,” Paul said.

Paul attended SUNY Cortland with Atlas and is also friends with Baia. “The reason I’m here is because I’m trying to help a friend, but it’s beyond the coaches. Sadly, the entire Town of Wilson has been affected,” Paul said. “This beautiful lakeside town has been labeled a sexual hazing town.”

The case has drawn national attention and was featured on ESPN’s “Outside the Lines.”

Paul feels the state police used inaccurate, inappropriate and “toxic” terms. “There was never anything sexual that happened in this case. We have also nothing to be able to define hazing in this case,” Paul said.

Youthful offender status is automatically afforded to teens under age 19 who have not been convicted of a crime.

Several witnesses were called Saturday, and Assistant District Robert Zucco is expected to call more witnesses for the prosecution at 6 p.m. Monday.

“If we decide to call witnesses, we can,” Vona said. “It depends on whether we need to call them.” Shelby said the defense has seven or eight witnesses ready.

A civil suit is expected to follow at the end of July in Niagara County Court. Buffalo attorney Terrence M. Connors is representing one of the boys who said he was assaulted.

Contact reporter Bill Wolcott at 439-9222, ext. 6246.

print this story  



autoconx
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide
Featured Jobs

Nurses
NURSES: RN - Endoscopy, PT days. Up to $5000 sign on bonus; Nurse Manager - Primary Care, FT, NYS LPN or RN license with...>MORE

Receptionist
FRONT DESK Receptionist 1:30-7:00 PM, for Lockport office. Must be reliable, personable & motivated. Previous chiroprac...>MORE

Hair Stylist
STYLIST WANTED: Full & Part Time. Apply in person, Root 78 Hair Studio & Spa, 2748 Main St, Newfane. 778-0463...>MORE

Director of Laboratory Services

DIRECTOR OF
LABORATORY SERVICES

Mount St. Mary's Hospital is offering an
excellent op
...>MORE

RN Supervisor
RN SUPERVISORS/LPN Charge Nurse/CNA’s
Full and Part Time
Positions available.
Apply in person
Fa
...>MORE

TOOL GRINDER & WIRE EDM OPERATOR
Tool Grinder-exp. w/contours & blades,Wire EDM Operator-5 yrs exp., 3rd shift. Pivot Punch Corp., resumes: jobs@pivotpu...>MORE

Counselor
COUNSELOR, PART-TIME: NIAGARA COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE is seeking a part-time counselor in student services to work in t...>MORE

Assembly
NF Co. seeking the
following:
• Packaging
• Assembly (small
detailed parts)
• Sorters
...>MORE

Research Assistant
RESEARCH Assistant to manage multiple clinical trials in a busy medical practice in Lockport. Full Time. Some incentives...>MORE

Home Care Aide
HomeCare Aide Certified Only. 3 overnights, transportation needed, $9.50-$11.50/hr. 298-4342 ...>MORE

See all ads

Feature Autos

1998 Dodge Dakota Sport
DODGE 1998 Dakota Sport 3.9 V6, regular cab, exc in & out, no rust, real sharp, $2750. 523-7102...>MORE

Ford 1997 Taurus
FORD 1997 taurus, runs exc. fully loaded, must see $1400 or best offer. 205-7711...>MORE

Dodge 2001 Neon
DODGE 2001Neon, 4 dr, 4 cyl, auto, 58k mi. am/fm CD player, n o rust, like new, $3950. 525-7796...>MORE

Chrysler 2000 Concord LXI,
Chrysler 2000 Concord LXI, 4 door, one owner, exc. condition, power windows, power steering, power locks, $5000 or best ...>MORE

Ford 1999 Escort ZX2
FORD 1999 ESCORT, ZX2 Coupe, runs great, NYS inspected, exc. cond. $1650. 694-0441...>MORE

1991 Lincoln Executive Town Car
LINCOLN 1991 Executive Town Car, 42k miles, no rust, runs, needs work, $600. 990-8895....>MORE

Pontiac 2000 Grand Prix XL
PONTIAC 2000 Grand Prix XL, black,
good condition
531-2669
...>MORE

See all ads

See all ads


 

Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.CNHI Classified Advertising NetworkCNHI News Service
Associated Press content © 2009. All rights reserved. AP content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our site is powered by Zope and our Internet Yellow Pages site is powered by PremierGuide.
Some parts of our site may require you to download the Flash Player Plugin.
View our Privacy Policy
Advertiser index