Case against Wilson coaches fizzles out
More than 14 months after they were arrested, the charges against two Wilson high school baseball coaches were dropped this morning.
News Niagara Reporter Thomas J. Prohaska broke the story on buffalonews.com. Read the latest version here.
Also check out a story published June 22 that detailed how the case against the coaches had changed over time.
--Aaron Besecker
It's about time
Posted by: Chris | July 06, 2009 at 05:05 PM
I hope those coaches file civil suits and win. They (and their families) had their reputations dragged through the mud when the whole time they were innocent. Justice always prevails!
Posted by: Cdog | July 06, 2009 at 05:32 PM
Isn't that convenient, the jock students bullying others and the people in charge of protecting them cover up whatever happened. I believe something did happen, why else did the thrid student plead guilty to the charges. Did the community pressure the victims to recant their statements? My guess is yes. It is the same old story, protect the popular students at any cost. The coaches need to take a look at what they have done, or not done, and think, what if this was my child. I'm sure if it was a member of their family the issue would not have been dismissed so easily. Gee, I wonder why the outcasts feel they need to take matters into their own hands and then we have a Columbine situation. Shame on you Wilson.
Posted by: Bruce Main | July 06, 2009 at 05:59 PM
Bruce Main,
Lots of problems.
1. "Jock" students? All involved were athletes.
2. The third player accepted the plea deal because he wanted to get it over with before he started college, read some of the articles.
3. NOWHERE does it say that the "victims" recanted their story. The DISTRICT ATTORNEY motioned for charges to be dismissed, that has nothing to do with the other players involved.
4. How do you know the "victims" weren't "popular" and the other players were? Maybe it's just the opposite but the JV players were just younger? That's IF anything serious even happened.
5. How do you shame a whole town on something you obviously know nothing about? Wilson should be proud because we stood by these coaches all along when the world told us we were crazy because we knew the kind of people they are. It turns out everyone else was crazy, including you. We're not a bunch of pushovers that believe what the media wants us to. Shame on you Bruce Main.
Posted by: Chris | July 06, 2009 at 07:11 PM
I think the community that supports these coaches - those who were elated in the room when the announcement was made that charges were dropped - and the coaches themselves - should be ashamed. The bottom line is a hazing incident did take place on the bus. When adults are sitting in the front of the bus not paying attention (or even sleeping) then bad things can happen with teenagers who are unsupervised. Paid vacation and seemingly no consequences for the coaches - that is what is disgusting about this story.
Posted by: PatLaFontaine | July 06, 2009 at 09:46 PM
How sad. Once more, a child who has been hurt, finally gets up the nerve to reach out for help, and the shyster lawyers get everyone off who holds any responsibility. Do you think another child will come forward the next time they are molested? Because that is what hazing is, it is abuse, and children and teens deserve to be protected. That's why the coaches and teachers are there, to protect the children. But these coaches and the bullies get to walk away. They are probably laughing about it right now. And this child and the others who have been molested will never get over the pain, fear and embarrassment. What is worse is that next time this happens to another victim, they will be too afraid to tell. I feel like we have gone back to a time long ago, when no one advocated for children, when you just kept quiet when someone hurt you, for fear that telling would mean that something worse would happen to you if you told. Take my word for it, these young people will never get over it, I have seen it happen too many times. My heart goes out to them.
Posted by: Beanie | July 06, 2009 at 10:23 PM
Pat,
How can you say "The bottom line is a hazing incident did take place on the bus?" The bottom line is that NO HAZING TOOK PLACE! That's why the DA dismissed the charges!!
A paid vacation? Do you have any idea how much lawyer fees are? And how about explaining to your young children that dad's on trial for something he didn't do. How about having a nation-wide negative stigma attached to you that you don't deserve? THAT is what's disgusting about this case.
Don't tell people that are happy that justice was served and whose friends can move on with their lives to be ashamed, or their community, because nothing could be farther from reality for most of the community, as hard as the media tries to make it look like the opposite is true. The vast majority of this community was united from the beginning of this.
Posted by: Chris | July 06, 2009 at 10:24 PM
Actually, Chris, a hazing incident did take place. The district attorney moved to dismiss the case because he could not prove that the coaches knew that student-athletes were hazed and subsequently did nothing to stop it.
I'm sure you are tight with the coaches and you're being a loyal friend, but you sound ignorant alleging nothing happened. If your child was to ever endure what those student-athletes experienced (and those who were hazed in the past), you might not feel as you currently do.
The coaches better focus on state ed. before looking for retribution from the district attorney and law enforcement; teachers have lost their certificates due to accusations of lesser charges.
Finally, don't expect them to return to the sidelines and dugouts anytime soon. Insurance companies won't cover Wilson because of the liability involved.
Posted by: PatLaFontaine | July 06, 2009 at 11:14 PM
about time this case is over. http://askthecollegekid.blogspot.com/
Posted by: AMansLife | July 07, 2009 at 12:03 AM
Pat,
I guess we'll see what the judge's ruling on the two players is in the next few days on whether hazing actually did take place. You're right, the DA dropped the case because he could not prove that the coaches knew something was happening and make a conscious decision to do nothing. So, with that in mind, I doubt the State Education department along with insurance companies will have a problem with the coaches since they have already been exonerated by the judicial system. Remember how adamant the DA was at the beginning of this case that the coaches were guilty? Now he's the one who's saying that they can't prove they were at fault. You'd think that if they were, it would be pretty easy to prove!
I have had these coaches in the past and I know that they don't put up with much nonsense. That's why I supported them all along. How can you say I sound ignorant because I don't think anything happened when you don't know either since you weren't there?!
If my child was sexually assaulted, then yes, I would be obviously be pretty ticked. But, we know that didn't happen. If my kid got a few charlie horses then I would want the kids who did it to be punished, but I wouldn't want their lives to be ruined. I certainly wouldn't want men who are coaches, teachers, and fathers to lose their jobs!
Teachers have lost their certifications for lesser charges, but keep in mind those who lost them were convicted and guilty of crimes.
Posted by: Chris | July 07, 2009 at 08:48 AM
I have very little sympathy for these coaches. In MY OPINION, they knew what was going on and didn't act. However it is true that you are innocent until proven guilty, and without solid evidence that they were aware of the situation makes it hard for the prosecution to build a case.
The problem here is that no one wants to take any blame. It's obvious to me that SOMETHING happened, otherwise one of the boys would not have accepted the plea deal. Don't give me that "they wanted it over" garbage, if nothing happened then no plea deal would have been given. If either of these coaches would have acted like a true man, they would tell the truth as to whether or not they knew about the situation, apologize to ALL of the students and make a public promise that this will not happen in the future, whether or not this incident really occurred. Sadly I don't think that day will ever come for these two.
Oh, and by the way, the coaches had their lawyer fees paid for by their union, so try again, Chris.
Posted by: Matt | July 07, 2009 at 10:33 AM
"Teachers have lost their certifications for lesser charges, but keep in mind those who lost them were convicted and guilty of crimes."
Wrong. Teachers who have had charges dropped have still lost their certificates - even after they have left the profession. Believe me, they will have a battle on their hands with state ed.
One of the students already accepted the plea bargain - so whether you think they just wanted things over and done with, it leads one to believe that something did happen. For the record, you weren't on the bus either, so you don't know what happened. My opinion stems from personal experiences with one of the coaches. He's irresponsible and lazy.
To Matt regarding: "Oh, and by the way, the coaches had their lawyer fees paid for by their union, so try again, Chris." Wrong. When a case becomes criminal, then it is the teacher's responsibility to cover legal fees, even if something occurred on school grounds.
Posted by: PatLaFontaine | July 07, 2009 at 12:15 PM
Pat,
I'm sure something did happen on the bus as well. However, based on all that's happened since (reduction of charges, etc), it doesn't seem as if it were anywhere close to what the media, state police, etc. made it out to be. While you are certainly entitled to your opinion, my opinion is based on years of experience with one of the coaches, and he is one of the kindest and dedicated coaches I have ever had throughout my years of high school and college. The other coach I have had some experience with and he is also a very good man. Also, I never said I knew what happened on the bus.
As for teachers losing their certifications from cases where the defendants were acquitted, I don't know of any in particular, but I suppose it could happen. Do you know of any specific incidences? Just curious.
Also, thanks for correcting Matt. I can tell you just want the truth of what happened. My main problem with what you have said is about how the community should be ashamed for backing the coaches. It's not because we don't care about all of the players involved, but instead that we know what kind of people the coaches are, and based on that, if something serious did happen, they would have stopped it.
Posted by: Chris | July 07, 2009 at 01:20 PM
You're right, it wasn't the union.....
http://blogs.buffalonews.com/inside_the_news/2009/07/as-the-wilson-hazing-case-nears-an-end-shades-of-gray-remain.html
"Assistant District Attorney Robert A. Zucco wouldn't say why the charges were dropped - especially now instead of more than a year ago, tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars later, as the Wilson district, in line with its teachers' union contract, paid for the coaches' defense."
Posted by: Matt | July 07, 2009 at 01:26 PM
Hey Chris, the bottom line in this is that these two coaches failed to properly supervise their students. My guess is that they knew hazing was happening and chose to look the other way. I'm sure they never suspected that students were doing what these punks were doing, but the extent is not the issue. They are teachers, and being a teacher is a big responsibility. I take kids on the bus a few times a year. There is no way I wouldn't know what was happening on my bus. THEY KNEW - They just chose to ignore it.
Posted by: Teacher guy | July 07, 2009 at 10:49 PM
Teacher guy:
HOMERUN!
Posted by: Ted | July 08, 2009 at 12:29 AM
Teacher guy:
HOMERUN!
Posted by: Tom | July 08, 2009 at 07:48 AM
Teacher guy,
You're right, the coaches were responsible for their players. However, to be convicted of endangering the welfare of a child, you need to be guilty of knowing what was happening and choose not to do anything. You're more than welcome to your opinion that the coaches knew and did nothing, but personally knowing both coaches, I know that there's no way they would just sit up there and do nothing if they knew kids were roughhousing in the back. Again, I've had experience with both of these coaches. Now that's my opinion as well, but mine is based on personal experience.
Another thing to consider is that if all of these "terrible things" were happening on the back of the bus, don't you think one of the other players would have done or said something? If they did say something to the coaches and they did nothing, then you have a pretty good case against them, but that didn't happen. Yes, something must have happened, but again, it was blown way out of proportion by the media and police.
Now, someone's going to say that the other players didn't say anything because they were intimidated. There were other varsity players on that bus and I'm sure all of those kids aren't heartless wimps. More evidence to point to the the notion that what happened was blown out of proportion.
Posted by: Chris | July 08, 2009 at 09:12 AM
Chris,
All the kids on the bus who kept quiet may not have been intimidated, but I believe they would never talk, no matter what they saw.
The most important thing at that age is NOT to be the fink or tattle-tale. It is the code that all kids follow. Nobody wants to be the snitch, because then you draw attention to yourself and worse, you have to worry about revenge.
I'm sure the victims (remember them?) are feeling all of this and more. It took great courage for them to speak up in the first place.
Posted by: G.R. | July 08, 2009 at 10:06 AM
Preventing Hazing by Susan Lipkin, PhD
This book illustrates what happens to a community where a hazing occurs. Town people take sides, coaches and those accused are given the benefit of the doubt and the victims are accused of lying. This behavior is documented and Wilson is a classic example. You can google second hazing and read an excerpt.
Posted by: Knowledge is the key | July 08, 2009 at 01:22 PM
http://books.google.com/books?id=9EGDvHzGWjsC&pg=PA138&lpg=PA138&dq=second+hazing&source=bl&ots=o7qVcnqKaE&sig=Dez_P8WF4_76PYgGtkuoX1SBjSg&hl=en&ei=6NVUSrinCNSGlAeU9pjpCA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1
Posted by: Knowledge is the key | July 08, 2009 at 01:25 PM
Do you recognize yourselves?
Posted by: Knowledge is the key | July 08, 2009 at 01:33 PM
Knowledge is the Key,
Does the book talk about what happens when charges have been reduced several times and the state police run an investigation of themselves? People take sides on every single issue there is, hazing is no different. Besides, when people don't know what happened, all you have is speculation, which this entire blog is comprised of (I'm guilty of this as well). Not a classic example.
In my opinion, I don't think the kids lied but I do believe both sides were coerced into making the story much more than it really was.
As for G.R., more speculation. I'll decide how I feel about the "victims" once I find out what actually did happen. I've been punched in the leg before but I wouldn't consider myself a victim. It's already been proven that nothing sexual happened, so why are they victims? I'm not saying they're not, I'm just saying I don't know. Sometimes it's OK to admit you don't know something, like how you really don't know how the "victims" do feel. Maybe they're just relieved that this is starting to end?
Posted by: Chris | July 08, 2009 at 03:41 PM
Chris,
No the book doesn't say anything about reduced charges...but it says plenty about the "code of silence", where there should be no mention of what happened; no tattletales in other words. Why don't you read the book and find out for yourself.
By the way, this does not look close to being over by a long shot.
Posted by: knowledge is the key | July 08, 2009 at 04:41 PM
Knowledge is the Key,
Maybe I'll write my own book about a great town whose reputation was damaged by rumors, overreaction, speculation, and lies. In a few months, I'll also be able to include its recovery and the realization of the outside world as to what a great community Wilson is. Until it is proven that hazing took place, I'm not going to read your book. So far, its looking like you should read mine.
I never said the case is close to over, but that it's beginning to end. For 15 months it was stagnant and now things are starting to happen quickly. The coaches are exonerated by the truth and very soon we'll expect a decision from the judge concerning the other two players. What's left is the civil suit against the district and hopefully more civil suits against the state police. Hopefully we'll find out what the state police's investigation turns up. Funny, it seems like they're investigating themselves more thorough than they did this case. If they were more thorough with this case, they wouldn't need an internal investigation.
Posted by: Chris | July 09, 2009 at 12:39 AM