Another Locker Search at Syracuse University } Bernie Fine
Federal authorities have searched a locker in the Syracuse University basketball center in their investigation of former assistant coach Bernie Fine, according to a law enforcement official familiar with the case.
Three men, including two former Syracuse ballboys, have accused Fine of molesting them as minors.
The official confirmed the search at the Carmelo K. Anthony Basketball Center happened Wednesday. The official, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Thursday because it's an ongoing investigation, would not say what agents sought or what they recovered from the locker.
The coaches' lockers are on the second floor of the facility; players' lockers are on the first floor.
Court documents show the third search warrant was issued Tuesday and signed by U.S. Magistrate Andrew Baxter.
Fine's office on campus was searched Tuesday morning, and his suburban home was searched last Friday. The U.S. Attorney's office in northern New York, which is leading the investigation, has not said what it sought or found.
Also Thursday, Syracuse Chancellor Nancy Cantor said the school decided to fire Fine upon hearing an audiotape recorded by Bobby Davis, one of Fine's three accusers. ESPN broadcast the 2002 audiotape, recorded by Davis, of a conversation between Davis and a woman ESPN identified as Fine's wife, Laurie, in which she says she knew "everything that went on."
Fine, who was denied the allegations, was fired Sunday.
Cantor's comments were in a published response to a USA Today editorial Thursday that calls on Syracuse to release a "full accounting" of what it did and why Fine was kept on the job.
Federal authorities are not constrained by a statute of limitations should they turn up evidence Fine molested his latest accuser, 23-year-old Zach Tomaselli of Lewiston, Maine. He said he told police that Fine molested him in 2002 in a Pittsburgh hotel room after a game. He said Fine touched him "multiple" times in that one incident.
Under federal law in 2002, prosecutions for the sexual or physical abuse or kidnapping of a child under 18 could continue until the victim turned 25. Subsequent amendments changed that to the life of the child or 10 years after the offense, whichever is longer.
Tomaselli, who faces sexual abuse charges in Maine, filed a claim of sex abuse against his father, Fred Tomaselli, in June in New York. Lt. Glenn Miner, a spokesman for the New York State Police, confirmed the investigation was completed in September and no charges were brought against Fred Tomaselli.
Fred Tomaselli has said he thinks his son is lying about being abused by Fine.
As the investigation continues, advocates for sex abuse victims have said Hall of Fame coach Jim Boeheim should resign or be fired for adamantly defending Fine and verbally disparaging the accusers.
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