WILSON: Few details emerge in Wilson hazing incident

By April Amadon<br><a href="mailto:amadona@gnnewspaper.com">E-mail April</a>
Niagara Gazette

April 28, 2008 06:28 pm

— State police are refusing to release the names of three teens facing felony sexual assault charges in connection with a hazing incident on a Wilson school bus.
At a press conference Monday, State Police Major Christopher Cummings said three varsity baseball players were charged Friday with various counts of third-degree aggravated sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a chid.
“There are ... cases that we investigate wherein I cannot tell you a lot of the details that I know you want to know,” Cummings told the gathered group of reporters. “I won’t be able to speak a lot about specifics in relation to this case, because it’s ongoing. And it may continue for some time.”
Cummings said the three students and members of the Wilson High School varsity baseball team were arrested late Friday. They were arraigned in Wilson Town Court and released on their own recognizance.
The varsity baseball season has been canceled, and varsity coach T.J. Baia and junior varsity coach Bill Atlas have been suspended from coaching. Wilson Superintendent Michael Wendt said the coaches are also teachers, but have not been suspended from teaching because they are tenured.
The incident took place on a school bus as the baseball players were returning home from a baseball game in Niagara Falls on April 17. Cummings said there were about 30 students on the bus at the time, along with three to five adults.
“The investigation revealed that the hazing incidents involved junior varsity students being taken to the back of the bus and subjected to physical abuse involving slapping, punching and kicking,” Cummings said. “These actions progressed to a level of criminal activity.”
No one was hospitalized as a result of the incident, but Cummings said victims suffered “minor bruising.”
More than one victim has come forward, he said, but a specific number was not released.
“I can’t say I’ve heard of anything that goes to this level,” Cummings said. “This was just taken way too far, and now we have to figure out why and make sure it never happens again.”
The incident came to light when state police were notified Wednesday.
The state police are working with the Niagara County District Attorney’s office to determine if the students charged may qualify for youthful offender status.
“I have an obligation to protect the victims, obviously, but I also have an obligation to protect the persons that were arrested, too,” Cummings said. “Remember, they are high school students.”
Wendt would not say whether the students who were arrested had been suspended, citing student privacy concerns, but he did say the students were not in school Monday.
“Under no circumstances does the district tolerate this behavior,” Wendt said. “When the investigation is complete, we will deal with those responsible accordingly.”
Wilson High School is planning a meeting Thursday night for parents who wish to come and speak about the issue. Wendt said he hopes the meeting will offer parents an “environment they feel they can express themselves in totally.”
The news has left many people in Wilson in “shock and disbelief,” Wendt said.
“Certainly, emotions are high and it does have an impact on the school community,” he said. “I’m sure that people are troubled.”

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