Charges against Wilson teens reduced

WILSON, N.Y. (WIVB) - Felony charges against the three teens in the Wilson hazing scandal have been reduced.

The Niagara County district attorney says Geoffrey Seefelt, Colton Sherman and Christopher Sidote will face misdemeanor and violation level charges of hazing.

A town justice adjourned the case Thursday night.

The district attorney says the lower charges more accurately reflect what happened when two junior varsity players wer assaulted on a baseball team bus in April.

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Previous story: 9:02 a.m., August 29, 2008

WILSON, N.Y. (WIVB) - We are following new developments into the Wilson High School hazing scandal.

Christopher Sidote's attorney Andrew Vona said, "My understanding is that some if not all of the original charges are going to be withdrawn, and in their place new charges are going to be filed."

When Geoffrey Seefelt, Colton Sherman and Christopher Sidote faced a judge in Wilson Town Court Thursday night, he adjourned their hearing for another two weeks.

The assistant Niagara County district attorney told the judge the charges against the three boys are just being refined.

However, defense attorneys for two of the boys are confident the felony charges will be dropped, and the teens will instead face different misdemeanor charges.

The three students were originally charged with sexually abusing junior varsity baseball players in the back of a bus in April.

Their attorneys say there was not enough medical evidence.

Colton Sherman's attorney Kevin Shelby said, "That was the allegation, that there was a sodomy, and that it was aggravated sexual abuse in the third degree, and it did not happen."

Vona said, "It would certainly seem to me that the logical reason for that is that there is not enough evidence for these charges to exist as a felony."

Story by Melissa Holmes, WIVB.

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Previous story: 9:54 p.m., August 28, 2008

WILSON, N.Y. (WIVB) - Prosecutors in Niagara County may have decided to drop felony charges against three high school students accused of sexually abusing two JV Baseball players.

The defendants faced a judge Thursday night in Wilson.

Andrew Vona, Sidote's Attorney said, "My understanding is that some if not all of the original charges are going to be withdrawn, and in their place new charges are going to be filed."

Defense attorneys for the Wilson High School baseball players charged with felony sexual abuse say they expect the case is about to take a dramatic turn.

Geoffrey Seefelt, Colton Sherman and Christopher Sidote were all in Wilson Town Court Thursday night, but the judge adjourned their hearing for another two weeks.

Sherman and Sidote's attorneys said it's because the felony charges will likely be dropped, and the teens would face different misdemeanor charges.

Vona continued, "I would expect the misdemeanor charges if I had to guess to be something along the lines of a forcible touching."

Kevin Shelby, Sherman's Attorney said, "There's a misdemeanor hazing and a violation hazing. We anticipate that one if not both of those charges will be laid."

An assistant Niagara County D.A. only told the judge the charges are being refined. The three students were originally charged with sexually abusing JV baseball players in the back of a bus in April. Their attorneys believe there simply wasn't enough medical evidence.

"It would certainly seem to me that the logical reason for that is that there is not enough evidence for these charges to exist as a felony," said Vona.

Shelby adds, "That was the allegation, that there was a sodomy, and that it was aggravated sexual abuse in the third degree, and it did not happen."

If the charges are reduced to misdemeanors, the students would be charged as youthful offender, and would not have permanent records. But, with a case that's made headlines in the national media..their attorneys feel they've been publicly tried already.

"It's been horrible really. We can't take away the fact that they were charged with aggravated sex abuse in the 3rd degree. As you mentioned, that charge is going to show up on profiles for the rest of their lives. So, it's very unfortunate," said, Shelby.

We were not able to reach the Niagara County District Attorney for comment Thursday night. The students are due back in court on September 9th.

The victims in this case have filed a notice of claim for a civil suit against the school district.

Story by Ellen Maxwell, WIVB