SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) - A New York prosecutor says he cannot bring charges against a former Syracuse University assistant basketball coach but finds that two men who accused him of sexual abuse are credible.
A federal probe is ongoing into the accusations against fired coach Bernie Fine, but Onondaga (ahn-uhn-DAH’-guh) County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick says he won’t pursue a state case because the accusations are too old to be prosecuted.
Three men have accused Fine of molesting them. Fitzpatrick says the third man’s allegations don’t relate to Onondaga County.
The claims once threatened the career of Hall of Fame Coach Jim Boeheim (BAY’-hym) who at first defended his long-time assistant and said the accusations were about making money. Victims’ advocates called for him to resign; he later apologized to the accusers.
Fine has denied the abuse allegations.
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