Here We Go Again - Syracuse Coach Placed on Leave Due to Molestation Charges

[Townhallsavoy]

Update: Assistant Syracuse University basketball coach Bernie Fine put on leave following child molestation allegations

Syracuse, NY -- Bernie Fine, longtime assistant Syracuse University basketball coach, was placed on administrative leave by the university after news broke that Fine is being investigated on allegations of child molestation.
Syracuse police confirmed early this evening that there was an investigation. “We are in the very early stages of an investigation,” Sgt. Tom Connellan said.

About an hour and a half after The Post-Standard received police confirmation, SU released this statement:
"In light of the new allegations and the Syracuse City Police investigation, this evening Chancellor Cantor asked Director of Athletics Dr. Daryl Gross, to place Associate Head Coach Bernie Fine on administrative leave.”

While he confirmed that Fine was being investigated by the police department on allegations of child molestation, Connellan would not comment on who brought the information to police or talk about any part of the investigation. The investigation started when information was brought to police today.

ESPN said on its Web site tonight that Fine is being accused of molesting a former Syracuse University ball boy, who is now 39 years old. According to the Web site, the accuser said the abuse occurred at Fine’s home, at SU basketball facilities, and on road trips, including the 1987 Final Four.

A Post-Standard reporter went to Fine's home tonight and knocked on the door. Family members said Fine was not home and that there would be no comment.

District Attorney William Fitzpatrick said he called police Chief Frank Fowler tonight after receiving a number of phone calls about the reported arrest of an SU basketball coach by Syracuse police.

Fitzpatrick said Fowler told him that there had been no such arrest. "There wasn't anything said about some investigation going on," Fitzpatrick said. He said he couldn't imagine police would be investigating something dating to the 1980s, because the statute of limitations had long passed and there would be nothing to prosecute.

http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2011/11/assistant_syracuse_university.html

Definitely not as news worthy as Penn State.

[The Prowler]

"In light of the new allegations".....means that they had a cover up too.

[djsimp]

I would be willing to bet that there will be many coaches at many schools called out now since this fiasco at Penn State has came to light.

[Buzz Killington]

Not saying it didn't happen, but I have to wonder exactly what prompted this guy, now 39, to all of a sudden throw the allegations out there from things that happened 20 to 30 years ago.

[Godfather]

Head Syaracuse Coach Boheim called the allegations false. Said he knows the victim and that he is an outright liar.

Said it was curious to him that both victims are related.

Supposedly this guy gave ESPN 8 people who could collaborate his story, and 7 of them did not. The only one who did was his cousin who is the other supposed victim.

Sounds shady to me, I watched the interview the guy seems about as credible as AWK dating a girl.

Perhaps Joe Schad was the lead reporter for this story.

[djsimp]

If this guy is making shit up, he needs to be kicked square in the kisser and hung by his nutsack. Sadly though, I expected shit like this to happen and once again folks who are actually victims will be hesitant to talk because of the fear of no one believing them.

[Townhallsavoy]

Agreed.

I had a student once accuse me of cornering her and making a sexual threat.  If another teacher hadn't been in the room when that supposedly happened, I don't know what would have happened to me.  My first-year-teacher word against hers. 

She should have been suspended or expelled or something.  Of course, it was just let go by the principal.

[JR4AU]

Not saying it didn't happen, but I have to wonder exactly what prompted this guy, now 39, to all of a sudden throw the allegations out there from things that happened 20 to 30 years ago.

Happens frequently.  I'm prosecuting a child sex abuse case now where the alleged acts took place 20 years ago.

[JR4AU]

Agreed.

I had a student once accuse me of cornering her and making a sexual threat.  If another teacher hadn't been in the room when that supposedly happened, I don't know what would have happened to me.  My first-year-teacher word against hers. 

She should have been suspended or expelled or something.  Of course, it was just let go by the principal.

The only thing I can think of that is nearly as bad as sexually abusing a child, is making a false allegation against someone of that nature.   

When I was policing, I had it happen a few times...always by people that got tickets.  Of course, none of them actually had the guts to make detailed accusations, or to put it in writing, they just wanted to "let my supervisor know about it".   Another group of people that should be shot on sight. 

[GH2001]

Happens frequently.  I'm prosecuting a child sex abuse case now where the alleged acts took place 20 years ago.

Thats why its great that our justice system makes an accuser prove the guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Sometimes it sucks (Casey Anthony, OJ), but for the most part its a great method.