WILSON: Coaches’ cases move forward

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June 27, 2008

COURTS: Attorneys to submit motions; cases against players adjourned until July.

By April Amadon<br><a href="mailto:amadona@gnnewspaper.com">E-mail April</a> The Lockport Union-Sun %26 Journal Fri Jun 27, 2008, 10:48 AM EDT

WILSON — Lawyers for the coaches charged in the alleged assault on a Wilson school bus asked for time to submit motions in the case during an appearance Thursday night in Wilson Town Court.

Meanwhile, the cases against three baseball players were adjourned until next month.

William Atlas, the junior varsity baseball coach, and Thomas J. Baia, the varsity baseball coach, have each been charged with endangering the welfare of a child.

Baia’s attorney, Robert Viola, asked Justice George R. Berger to grant an adjournment of the case so he and Atlas’ attorney, Kelly Connors, can submit motions in the case.

Berger said the motions are due from the defense by Aug. 12, and the defendants will be back in court Aug. 28.

Neither coach had any comment for reporters after Thursday’s hearing.

Baia’s father-in-law, Charles Stojak, of Lewiston, said he does not believe Atlas and Baia are guilty of anything.

“This is a big waste of time,” Stojak said. “All because a couple of punks did something stupid ... they’re wasting a lot of time, money and effort.”

The students charged in the case — 16-year-olds Colton J. Sherman, Christopher A. Sidote, 16, and Geoffrey A. Seefeldt, 18, — had their cases adjourned until July 24.

Sherman, Sidote and Seefeldt are accused of assaulting at least two junior varsity players during an April 17 bus trip back to Wilson from Niagara Falls.

They were arrested April 25 after an investigation by state police.

According to court documents, the teens are accused of “(inserting) a foreign object into the rectum of a male while he was being held down on the floor of the school bus.”

Seefeldt is charged with three counts of third-degree aggravated sexual abuse and one count of endangering the welfare of a child.

Sherman and Sidote are charged with one count each of third-degree aggravated sexual abuse and endangering the welfare of a child.

State police have said Baia and Atlas were on the bus at the time.

Stojak said the coaches were at the front of the bus and could not see what was happening in the back.

“(The players) were probably hiding so the coaches couldn’t see what was going on,” he said.

Baia and Atlas pleaded not guilty to the charges May 13.

Atlas, 35, is a physical education teacher at Thomas Marks Elementary School in Wilson, and Baia, 40, also of Wilson, is a math teacher at Wilson Middle School.

Both have been suspended from coaching and teaching.

Contact reporter April Amadon at 439-9222, ext. 6251.

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