Wilson coaches break their silence

WILSON, N.Y. (WIVB) - The two baseball coaches caught up in an alleged hazing incident in Wilson spoke out for the first time in 15 months.

Thomas Baia and William Atlas said a terrible injustice and rush to judgment happened in 2008 by law enforcement.

Child endangerment charges were dismissed against them on Monday with hundreds of family and friends around them.

The coaches are now asking the Governor and the State Superintendent of Police for proof that when the state police investigation is complete they be informed of a number of troopers punished for their actions.

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Two Wilson High School coaches break their silence. Wilson High School coaches Thomas Baia and William Atlas are speaking out for the first time about the Wilson hazing incident.

News 4 is at the press conference called together by the two men. Despite having all charges against them dropped earlier this week, questions still remain.

It's been 15 months since the alleged hazing incident happened. The coaches might now be off the hook, but this saga is from over.

As suspended coaches Thomas Baia and William Atlas speak out Wednesday, we could learn more about many of the unanswered questions in the Wilson High School Hazing case, a story that has captured national attention.
   
The coaches were facing misdemeanor charges of child endangerment for not stopping an alleged assault on the back of a baseball team bus last April. Monday, those charges were dropped.

Thomas Baia's attorney Robert Viola said, "Very often a case that will start off one way, and may appear to be one way, once time plays on it and things develop, you may have an entirely different perception."
   
Some members of community are still skeptical. "I think it's horrible they got off. I really do. The school bus is so small. How could you possibly not know something is going on?" said Wilson resident Theresa Bennett.

What really did go on? The judge should be making his decision any day now on the guilt or innocence of two 17-year-olds who face misdemeanor charges of forcible touching and hazing. A third player, now 19, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor and is awaiting sentencing.

All three originally faced felony aggravated sexual abuse charges, and those were reduced. The State Police is still conducting an internal investigation of how the case was handled.

One more layer to this saga, the families of the two alleged victims are filing a civil suit against the school district saying the district didn't do enough to protect them, given an apparent history of hazing there.

"There should have been put into place certain practices and procedures that would've eliminated this conduct, would've addressed it in a much more aggressive fashion, and would've avoided harm to any of the kids," said Attorney for Alleged Victims Terry Connors.

News 4's Lorey Schultz will have the details on Wednesday. As for their jobs, they've been suspended with pay from coaching and teaching. The Wilson Board of Education will meet next week and vote on reinstating them, a move the superintendent supports.