Third Man Says Syracuse Coach Molested Him

A third accuser has emerged in the Bernie Fine sexual abuse case—and unlike the first two, this one may be able to prosecute, the Syracuse Post-Standard reports. Zach Tomaselli, 23, tells police that the Syracuse University assistant basketball coach molested him 9 years ago in a Pittsburgh hotel room. Tomaselli, then only 13, says Fine invited him on the road to see a ballgame after the two met through Tomaselli's dad.

Tomaselli's case may be prosecutable because it occurred within the 10-year statute of limitations for interstate sexual abuse cases. One possible hurdle: Tomaselli himself is up on charges of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old boy. Two more hurdles: His estranged father says Tomaselli is a liar who has concocted the Fine story, and Tomaselli has no eye-witnesses or physical evidence. So why step forward? “I wanted to announce this to encourage all sex abuse victims to come forward as tough as it is because we can stop other kids from this abuse,” Tomaselli wrote on Facebook. (More Bernie Fine stories.)