WILSON: Teens' charges reduced in alleged assault case

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September 10, 2008

By April Amadon<br><a href="mailto:amadona@gnnewspaper.com">E-mail April</a> The Lockport Union-Sun %26 Journal Wed Sep 10, 2008, 02:24 AM EDT

WILSON — The charges against three Wilson teens were officially reduced during a court appearance Tuesday, though each teen faces further charges of hazing in connection with an alleged assault on a school bus in April.

The Niagara County District Attorney’s Office asked Wilson Town Justice George Berger to refile charges against 16-year-olds Colton J. Sherman and Christopher A. Sidote and 18-year-old Geoffrey A. Seefeldt.

Each teen had originally been charged with various counts of aggravated sexual assault, a felony.

Seefeldt is now charged with three counts of third-degree forcible touching, a misdemeanor.

Sherman and Sidote each now face one count of forcible touching.

Assistant District Attorney Robert Zucco said the new charges “are not in any way a reflection that less serious conduct occurred.”

“We still ... support every allegation that has been made,” Zucco said. “These charges more accurately and better reflect proper charges to be brought under these circumstances.”

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

They were arrested after an investigation by the New York State Police, the agency that filed the original charges.

In addition to the new lesser charges, the state police have now charged each teen with various counts of hazing.

Seefeldt is facing three counts each of first-degree hazing, a misdemeanor, and second-degree hazing, a violation.

Sidote is faces with one count each of first- and second-degree hazing, while Sherman is facing two counts of each.

The teens’ next appearance in Wilson Town Court will be Nov. 18.

“What (the court) did, in effect, gave us a clean slate with respect to the charges,” said Kevin Shelby, attorney for Sherman.

At issue during Tuesday’s hearing were orders of protection on behalf of the alleged victims in the case. The orders, which bar the defendants from having any contact with the alleged victims, were issued by the court based on the original charges.

Andrew Vona, attorney for Sidote, said all three students have been suspended from school pending a superintendent’s hearing.

If they suspensions are lifted, the orders of protection — if kept as they are — would still bar the students from going back to school.

“There’s a very real possibility that these young men would like to get back into their school,” Vona said. “If the school says they can go back, well abide by any provisions (from the court). ... I don’t think it’s fair to prevent these young men from going back to school.”

Berger said he will examine the situation if the school does lift the suspensions.

“At that time, you could present the court with testimony from school officials ... that will ensure the protection of the alleged victims,” Berger told Vona. “We can consider it at that time.”

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

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