WILSON: New adjournment in alleged hazing case

Courts

March 11, 2009

Staff Reports The Lockport Union-Sun %26 Journal Wed Mar 11, 2009, 12:21 AM EDT

WILSON — The alleged hazing incident on the Wilson High School baseball bus on April 17, 2008, is nearing its first anniversary without a settlement.

The case against students Christopher Sidote, Colton Sherman and graduate Geoffrey A. Seefeldt was adjourned late Tuesday afternoon, according to Town Justice George Berger.

Kelvin Shelby, representing Sherman, requested a delay of three weeks. Berger plans to resume the discussion of a trial date for Tuesday or March 24.

Attorney P. Andrew Vona of Lockport represents Sidote, and Mark E. Guglielmi represents Seefeldt.

The lawyers and defendants were not at town court on Tuesday.

On Feb. 18, Berger suppressed statements made by Seefeldt to state police investigators, saying investigators did not allow him access to an attorney during the interviews. Also several charges against the defendants were dismissed.

Seefeldt, now 19, had been charged with three counts of third-degree forcible touching, three counts of first-degree hazing and one count of second-degree hazing. Two of the first-degree hazing charges against Seefeldt were dismissed.

Sherman, 17, had been facing two counts each of first- and second-degree hazing. Both the first-degree hazing charges against him have been dismissed.

No charges were dismissed for Sidote, who still faces one count each of first- and second-degree hazing.

Seefeldt, Sidote and Sherman did not have lawyers present while being questioned about the April 17 bus ride, during which members of the school’s junior varsity team were allegedly sexually abused in a hazing incident.

Shelby hoped the case be dismissed for lack of evidence.

“They are charged with a violation and a misdemeanor,” Sherman’s lawyer said. “There are two forms of hazing: One is a violation, which is not a crime. Also, misdemeanor hazing involves physical injury. That’s what didn’t happen.”

The Wilson trio was originally charged with a felony, which was reduced to a misdemeanor.

The teens were varsity baseball players last spring, when they were accused of assaulting three junior varsity players in the back of a Wilson school bus.

State police investigated the alleged incidents and called in special investigators from Batavia.

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