The 11 high school players accused of tying a younger teammate in remote forests as part of a trot ritual last month regretted their actions, his lawyer said on Thursday.
“Our customers and their families are devastated by the impact this incident had on the Westhill community,” Tom Cerio of Cerio Law Office said in a statement. “These young people deeply mourn their involvement in what began as a mistaken attempt at a joke. They recognize that their actions were inadequate and do not minimize fear and anguish experienced by other students.”
All 11 players, students of the Westhill High School in Syracuse, surrendered to the Onondaga County Sheriff Office in North New York on April 30, after the deputies gave them 48 hours to yield or face criminal charges.
As a result, prosecutor Bill Fitzpatrick said last week that he would receive tickets for the appearance for the less serious misdemeanor crime of illegal imprisonment. They have not been arrested and will avoid criminal records.
Cerio said these clients appreciated the promoter’s approach and said the discussions with him would continue. He added that he expected the boys – which were not identified because of their age – are not subject to “irreversible punishment” by the school district, media and local community.
“As in any case involving young people, we ask for a balanced approach, which includes appropriate consequences, as well as providing an opportunity to make peace and grow with their mistakes,” said Cerio.
Westhill’s coach Aaron Cahill said last week in a now excluded LinkedIn post that he had no prior knowledge of the boys’ supposed trot play. Westhill Central School District Superintendent Steve Dunham said the lacross season would be canceled in light of the incident.
Dunham said in a statement Thursday that the school was working on its own disciplinary process over the 11 players, but could not legally share the details of individual cases.