STATEMENT FROM ERIE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY JOHN FLYNN

Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that his office has concluded its investigation into an alleged incident, related to the demonstrations at Nichols School, involving juveniles that occurred at a home in the Town of Amherst in November 2021.

“When this matter came to our attention, senior prosecutors in my office’s Special Victims/Domestic Violence Bureau conducted a thorough investigation into this matter with the Amherst Police Department.

After reviewing all of the evidence, interviewing numerous individuals, and consulting with the victim, it has been determined that there is not sufficient evidence to prove the elements of a felony charge beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Today, the Amherst Police Department filed a misdemeanor charge against an adolescent male who was 17-years-old at the time of the alleged crime.

By operation of law, any adolescent, under the age of 18, who is charged with a misdemeanor offense is adjudicated in Family Court. We have met with the victim and their parent to explain the outcome of our investigation. My office no longer has jurisdiction over this case.”