jmklinge's Blog

Zach Tomaselli admitted lying about his sexual assault allegations against Bernie Fine.

He called the false allegations "a game" that he did not want to continue. He told CNY Central that he doesn't usually have feelings and hates people without caring.

According to an email sent to Matt Mulcahy by Tomaselli, Bobby Davis, the first man to accuse Fine of sexuall assault, told him what to tell detectives. Tomaselli's integrity was seriously called into question after he confused the team SU's men's basketball team played against at the time of the alleged abuse, according to an interview in The Daily Orange, published Feb. 6.

Tomaselli will begin serving a three-year sentence for sexually abusing a teenager at a summer camp where he worked.

He reportedly expressed regret over damaging SU head coach Jim Boehem's name. Boeheim and Syracuse University are being sued for defamation by Davis and Mike Lang, Davis's stepbrother and second accuser in the Fine scandal.

Brian DeJoseph, Onondaga County State Supreme Court judge, ruled that the Bobby Davis and Mike Lang's defamation suit against Jim Boeheim and Syracuse University will have to be held in Onondaga County.

In his ruling, he stated the attorneys for Davis and Lang failed to prove that an unbiased jury could not be found in Onondaga County.

Gloria Allred, one of the attorneys representing the two stepbrothers, originally filed suit in New York County December 30. On January 17, Boeheim's defense filed for the case to be moved to Onondaga County, citing that none of the parties to the case live in New York County.

Allred and her team of attorneys, including Mariann Wang, made arguments that some former players might live in New York County, but the argument was unsuccessful in New York City and in Syracuse.

Allred told the Post-Standard via email that her team reviewed DeJoseph's decision and does not plan to appeal at this time. 

The affidavit alleges that Boeheim and the University should have been aware of this misconduct in addition to the sexual assault allegations directed at Bernie Fine. Shortly after Davis and his step-brother, Mike Lang, publicized their allegations, Boeheim defended his long-time friend and assistant, saying that the accusations were about money.

In the affidavit, Davis states that "players used to joke openly ... that Laurie Fine 'gave good head' and was great in bed."

Gloria Allred, Lang and Davis's attorney in the case, could not be reached at the time of publication.

Syracuse University Vice President, Kevin Quinn is handling the issue for the school." Wewill respond to the plaintiff's lawsuit and their various allegations at the appropriate time," Quinn said via email.

After a tumultuous 48 hours, Zach Tomaselli has asked the Syracuse Police Department to stop the Bernie Fine investigation on his behalf.

Tomaselli's accusations against Fine were first made public on November 31. That statement alleged that Fine had molested him the night before a Syracuse game against the University of Pittsburgh in the team's hotel room before the game. The game in question was played on Jan. 22, 2002.

On Thursday, however, fifth-term Onondaga County District Attorney, William Fitzpatrick revealed that when authorities first interviewed Tomaselli he was unclear in regard to Syracuse had played the day after the alleged incident, speculating that it was a rival, possibly UConn. Tomaselli claims that a friend later reminded him that he went to a Pittsburgh game instead, resulting in the public accusation.

Tomaselli then filed a civil suit against Fine on Dec. 8 in the Allegheny Court of Common Pleas. That suit is also being dropped according to a statement given to the Syracuse Post-Standard by Tomaselli's lawyer, Jeff Anderson.

He also told the Daily Orange as well as the Post-Standard that he falsified emails and lied to members of the media in attempts to gain traction for his allegations. He still maintains the accusations. In a text message sent to The Post-Standard he wrote, "But he did do it. Im not lying."

Phone calls to both Fitzpatrick's office and Fine's attorney, Karl Sleight, were not returned.

In February, Tomaselli faces sentencing for sexually abusing a Maine teenager. Said Tomaselli, "I have a couple weeks left to live. I want to be left alone."