May 8, 2008...3:43 pm
Buffalo News continues to protect alleged perps
Every newspaper has its own policies, but I have to question the Buffalo News’ decision to still not name the alleged perpetrators in the Wilson case. At the very least, name the one kid who is now charged with drug possession. And it wasn’t just some marijuana.
The Buffalo News is a good metro paper, but acting holier than thou with this whole case is nuts. I would understand if these teens were granted “youthful offender status,” but they haven’t.
Let’s not forget, the News named the four black Lockport males charged in the gang rape last year. Now, full disclosure, I’m not sure at what point in the investigation they decided to use the names, but when everything was said and done, the names appeared in the News.
I tried finding the original story in that case to see if the name was used or not, but they charge to go back that far … too bad.
Here’s one of our original stories, free of charge 
The Wilson kids’ names are public record and releasing them takes the pressure off the rest of the team and ends the rumors of who is and who isn’t responsible. That’s why we named then as soon as we could.
Rumors in small towns are nasty.
Now, with Colton J. Sherman charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, we may be getting an even-more clear picture as to who this alleged perpetrator is. He still hasn’t been convicted of anything, both in the Wilson and drug cases, but the fact that young Colton is accused in both says something.
He isn’t exactly a choir boy, so why not release his name? What does that say for the rest of the innocent kids, who for those who just read the Buffalo News, may be seen as perps themselves, because the record has not be set straight by that publication.
The names of the alleged victims and the alleged perpetrators have not been named by the News. I wouldn’t name the victim, but the fact that they are both treated the same way doesn’t sit well with me. Wondering how that makes the victims feel? Just my two cents.
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