Concerned Parents, a loosely organized group of residents formed in response to the Wilson hazing incident, are awaiting the decision before the town court on charges against two 17-year-old high school students.
The group is angry charges against the Wilson baseball coaches Tom Baia and William Atlas were dismissed Monday, feeling that much evidence regarding the incident on the team bus on April 17, 2008 was thrown out because of technicalities, according Bob Martin, a spokesman for the group.
“Parents were just sitting back, waiting for evidence to come out. The evidence did not come out,” he said. “All we were looking for was accountability. We wanted to see the right thing done.”
Colton Sherman and Christopher Sidote, whose charges were reduced, were suspended from school after their arrests, but those suspensions were lifted during the first week of December following an administrative hearing.
Martin followed the case while working on the West Coast on business for three months. He spoke to a victim’s mother and learned the boy was on the witness stand and interrogated for three hours during a closed court session.
Andrew Vona, who represents one of the accused boys, said he was not looking at the clock during cross-examination. The Lockport attorney also took exception to the word victim. “Victim of what?” Vona asked. “Horseplay on a bus?”
According to Vona, 10 witnesses of the alleged incident took the stand. “All those kids got to testify to what they observed,” he said.
Vona also disputed a parent’s report that none of the victims stories have ever wavered or changed.
“I’m a little frustrated,” Martin said. “It’s bad for the kids that were beat up. Justice was not served. Now these kids have a stamp on them and nasty things being said.”
Judge Berger’s decision on the boys’ case is expected soon, Vona said.
Courts
HAZING CASE: Wilson group unhappy with dismissals
- Courts
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Davis will not seek Murphy removal
Lawyers for accused killer Matthew “Bones” Davis say their client will not ask to have Niagara County Court Judge Matthew J. Murphy III removed from his case.
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Man charged in Casal attack says Falls boxer was the aggressor
An assault charge filed against a Town of Niagara man accused of attacking Niagara Falls boxer Nick Casal is heading to the grand jury.
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Falls teen reaches agreement in shooting death of student
A Niagara Falls teenager has accepted a plea agreement in the shooting death of a Niagara University student who was killed in a “robbery gone bad” late last year.
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Judge may step down in murder case
Lawyers for accused killer Matthew "Bones" Davis will have 10 days to decide whether or not they will ask Niagara County Court Judge Matthew J. Murphy III to step down from the case.
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NT drug dealer gets 92-month sentence
The North Tonawanda man guilty of helping run a cocaine ring stretching from the Town of Tonawanda to Niagara Falls will spend nearly the next eight years behind bars.
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Lewiston jet boat suit tossed
The second of two lawsuits brought against the Village of Lewiston and Whirlpool Jet Boat Tours has been dismissed.
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Matthew Davis arraigned in Bradberry homicide case
When Robert Bradberry walked into a Niagara County courtroom Tuesday afternoon, he was surprised by the man he saw in shackles and an orange jumpsuit.
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Sixth delay granted in Toohey case
Sentencing in federal court for a disbarred Lewiston lawyer has now been postponed for the sixth time.
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Ten-year term for former Falls sub who had sex with a student
His victim’s mother called him “a monster.”
She also told John Summerson, that if should ever “have children”, she hoped “he never has to feel what I feel.” -
Former coroner, fire chief fined, to perform community service
Former Fourth District Coroner Russell Jackman and soon-to-be-former Cambria Volunteer Fire Co. Chief Vincent Salerno will each pay a fine totaling $1,000 and perform 100 hours of community service for their improper handling of human remains after a traffic fatality last month.
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