Bernie Fine Investigation: Syracuse Basketball Coach Has Home Searched By Police In Sex Case

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Authorities involved in a sexual-abuse investigation of Syracuse University assistant basketball coach Bernie Fine carried out a search at his home Friday but declined to comment on what they were looking for.

New York State Police spokesman Jack Keller said troopers were called to assist the U.S. attorney's office at the search. Assistant U.S. Attorney William Pericak said he "can't confirm or deny" an investigation.

"We don't comment on whether or not search warrants are being executed – we only comment at the time of public events," Pericak said. "I'm not saying there was or wasn't one here. But when you get a search warrant that's sealed, it remains sealed until a court unseals it."

He said the goal is to avoid "a trial in the press."

The Post-Standard newspaper reported that four state troopers stood at the end of the driveway at Fine's home in suburban DeWitt on Friday afternoon. It said at least six police vehicles were parked on the street and officers were looking through a trash can.

Syracuse police spokesman Sgt. Tom Connellan wouldn't comment on any of the activity going on at the house. He referred all questions to Pericak at the U.S. attorney's office in Albany.

Two former ball boys for the Syracuse basketball team, Bobby Davis and his stepbrother, Mike Lang, have said they were molested more than 25 years ago by Fine, who is on paid administrative leave from the university. Fine has called the allegations "patently false."

Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner has strongly defended the city police department against accusations by Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick that police officials criminally leaked a witness affidavit to embarrass his office.

At a news conference Wednesday, Fitzpatrick accused Syracuse police Chief Frank Fowler and Deputy Chief Sean Broton of leaking the affidavit. At issue is the handling in 2002 of Davis' initial claims that Fine had molested him.

Comments

[Mike McGuire]

11:19 PM on 11/28/2011

I guess Fine isn't so "fine" anymore.

[cindyperry]

02:45 PM on 11/27/2011

A third accuser has come forward.

[SimianNation]

10:23 PM on 11/26/2011

Touch the monkey!

[wizkid14]

08:01 PM on 11/26/2011

Interesting! Had it been me the poilce would have searched my home a week ago. This is similar to the J. Sandusky case. What takes law inforcement so long to investigate these ppl accused of heinous acts? And why is Jerry Sandusky still walking around free to rape and injury others?

[ashley22]

06:05 PM on 11/26/2011

Joe Paterno's judgement and actions with respect to anther's criminal behavior are an appropriate

topic for public scrutiny,but to suggest that this tragedy cancels all that preceded it is shortsighted
self-righteous hypocrisy of the highest order.there is a reason that judgement is reserved for the Lord and not to lynch mobs that ride the waves of public bias and emotion.

[Douvie]

09:35 AM on 11/26/2011

In other news, the Syracuse Police Department is sending a mutual aid contingent to the Great Chicago Fire....

[Paulo1]

09:00 AM on 11/26/2011

I begin to think that there really is a university for Key Stone Cops. The story of the allegations against his guy have been in the news for a week and they are just now going to execute a search of his house? Innocent or guilty, if I knew I was under investigation I would make sure that my house smelled of fresh bleach, that the garbage was empty and that the only thing you found laying around was my application for sainthood.

[muscle guy]

09:52 AM on 11/26/2011

this truly is sad

[BAMUDA]

08:22 AM on 11/26/2011

This story and the treatment it is receiving would be entirely different if there was no PSU scandal upon which to piggy-back. Every news story, column and comment that integrates the PSU scandal when speaking to this case is purposely biased.

[JoePesci]

06:59 AM on 11/26/2011

To those who point fingers and call the investigators incompetent for the delay:

This is the opposite of a "Rush to judgement". No warrant was issued before a reasonable probable cause, unfortunate as that is.

For those who accuse "Nero" Like judges of Legislating from the bench: Please, if there was an over reach of justice, every computer, lap-top and net book of every member of the team, faculty and staff would have been siezed immediately without due process..

When the law is followed, often no one side is satisfied..

[Ghost of For Fathers]

05:59 AM on 11/26/2011

The nero wanna be judges have created a very sick world.

[JoePesci]

06:49 AM on 11/26/2011

yeah, judges aided and abetted serial child rapists..

[Ghost of For Fathers]

07:10 AM on 11/26/2011

The sick reality is that they do.

[stealman1001]

03:16 AM on 11/26/2011

Been at least a couple weeks since I first noticed this story.
And Jim Boeheim still has his job why?

[luapmi2]

05:08 AM on 11/26/2011

Winning is more important than abusing children

[vinman043]

08:38 AM on 11/26/2011

And you know for a fact that these two boys are telling the truth...how?

[Guscat]

05:15 AM on 11/26/2011

Just curious, why should Boeheim be fired? There is no indication he knew anything in the manner Paterno did..

[Patriot86]

09:13 AM on 11/26/2011

They say and I guess it will come out that the coach did take boys on the road and the coach knew and if you defend the guy before knowing the facts, you risk everything...no doubt there are other boys.

[Herm]

01:58 AM on 11/26/2011

Gosh, I wonder if the authorities waited long enough for all incriminating evidence to be destroyed. Is 2 or 3 long enough? Just sayin'.

[kelvin50]

01:24 AM on 11/26/2011

OMG! They are just NOW doing a search! This man will probably get off with this kind of bumbling investigation.

[ethicalpluralist]

12:56 AM on 11/26/2011

From what I read in the Syracuse paper, the boys were tweens during the alleged abuse. Then, around the time when one young man came of age, he went to the police, who interviewed him for about 5 minutes and never got back to him. His girlfriend tried the DA. They said they'd call after checking...nada. So there was no investigation apparently, back then. The Feds got involved in the current investigation because at least one alleged incident occurred at an out of state game which the boy accompanied the coach since crimes involving minors crossing state lines comes under their jurisdiction. I would guess they are looking for financial records from the travel etc which the coach most likely would not have purged. Locals believe the ramp up in interest might involve a more recent accusation of abuse, so the 2 boys may not be the only ones the police are investigating. That said, I always wonder about the community surrounding abuse, the parents and peripheral associates who are probably truly "good" people who simply can't let themselves see such things happening right under their noses. Actions that go on like this are the result of a tainted community in my opinion. Psychological discomfort is so easy to dispose of with denial, and that denial allows abusers to muck around in the shadows. Daylight, which neither accuses or excuses, is often uncomfortable but that is the atmosphere in which true goodness flourishes.

[KenInd]

03:57 AM on 11/26/2011

I am no legal expert, but the 'clock' which determines the statute of limitations stops when a charge is first made by the alleged victim to the authorities. If this happened within 7(?) years of the event(s), then even if that happened 10 or 20 years ago (and nothing was done) then if new evidence presents itself now, it is admissible because statute of limitation no longer applies. The state must also investigate (although the Feds have a stronger charge).

[JoePesci]

07:11 AM on 11/26/2011

first of all, Probative value. If they gave statements in closed chambers that establish a pattern of abuse, some may be admissible, even though additional charges are jurisdictionally void, unless the crimes were committed at away games. Crossing state lines changes everything. it then falls under federal statutes. But you are correct about one thing, the Initial complaints happened before any statute could have passed. This wouldn't be void in this case, it would be a re-investigation of the charges that were made in a timely fashion. So, If one complains, and it is swept under the rug, the length of time since the accusation has no merit, just the length of time between the Incident and it's reporting.

If I rob a bank, and make incriminating statements in front of a grand jury who doesn't indict, the 7 year statute no longer applies. The testimony was entered into the record, and can be re-opened. It's the difference between a rape reported 20 years after, and a rape reported immediately, resulting in a 20 year search for the rapist.

F/Faved.

[elizlucinda]

09:03 AM on 11/26/2011

There may not be a statute of limitations when it comes to child sexual abuse.

[1differentdrummer]

05:50 AM on 11/26/2011

Thanks for your sexual assault report, we'll get back to you on that. Faved.

[wonderfullone]

12:23 AM on 11/26/2011

DNA lasts for many years.------If the coach is innocent lets see what the DNA says.---Perverts are for ever.