12/22/24
April 13, 2012
Zach Tomaselli: I Made Up Accusations Against Bernie Fine: Zach Tomaselli, 23, a convicted child molester who claimed he was sexually abused as a 13-year-old by Syracuse assistant coach Bernie Fine, now says he made it all up. "I never met Bernie Fine or went to an autograph session. ... It has become a burden of a lie and I am sick of it. Bobby Davis told me what to tell detectives and it pretty much took off from there." Davis, 39, was a former Syracuse ball boy whose claims of being molested as a minor by Fine cannot be prosecuted due to the statute of limitations. Federal prosecutors used Tomaselli's statements as the basis to search Fine's home in November. When asked if he accused Fine to get leniency in his own criminal case, Tomaselli said, " I can't talk about my case, but you can guess the answer."
posted by rcade to basketball at 11:17 AM - 9 comments
There was a young female friend of Tomaselli's who claimed she was told several years ago about Fine molesting him. He explained that to the Syracuse paper: "He gave that woman two Oxycontin pills in exchange for her agreeing to tell police and reporters that Tomaselli had told her two years ago about Fine abusing him as a boy."
posted by rcade at 12:00 PM on April 13, 2012
I'll bet Fine is asking the same question that the Duke lacrosse team was asking: Where do I go to get my reputation back?
posted by TheQatarian at 12:57 PM on April 13, 2012
Where do I go to get my reputation back?
Same place he can find his home, job, and rest of his life.
posted by roberts at 06:51 PM on April 13, 2012
In the garbage can? His career and life have been ruined, even if every accuser is found to have lied. No school will touch him.
posted by jjzucal at 09:59 PM on April 13, 2012
Not intending to start any religious discussion (just think ancient Hebrew law), but what might be the most damaging thing addressed in the 10 Commandments is, "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor". Bernie Fine's reputation is the result thereof.
posted by Howard_T at 10:29 PM on April 13, 2012
?!
I'm going to continue to believe that if Tomaselli had murdered Fine, that would have been worse.
posted by grum@work at 10:40 PM on April 13, 2012
I haven't seen any interviews with Fine, but Boeheim was barely able to contain his anger about this before, so I can't imagine how much more pissed he is now.
posted by beaverboard at 11:01 PM on April 13, 2012
Interesting thought, Howard.
I interpreted it as: Would one rather be shot dead, then live with that stigma? If so, then it might be.
posted by BoKnows at 01:01 AM on April 14, 2012
Davis is now claiming he never believed Tomaselli's claims. He's got credibility problems of his own.
I thought back in November that Tomaselli talking to Davis was a way he could've fooled police about visiting Fine's home. He talked to him before his story went public, and Davis had a motive to want a third, much younger accuser to come forward.