Accuser of Syracuse's Fine: I told the truth
By JOHN KEKISBy JOHN KEKIS, Associated Press?
?FILE - In this Nov. 14, 2011 file photo, Syracuse basketball coach Jim Boeheim, left, watches the action with assistant coach Bernie Fine, during a college basketball game against Manhattan in the NIT Season Tip-Off in Syracuse, N.Y. Federal authorities have dropped their investigation into sexual abuse claims that cost a Syracuse University assistant basketball coach his job, threw a top-ranked team into turmoil and threatened the career of Hall of Fame coach Boeheim. After a probe spanning nearly a year, U.S. Attorney Richard Hartunian said Friday, Nov. 9, 2012 there was no evidence to support claims that Bernie Fine had molested a boy in 2002 in a Pittsburgh hotel room. (AP Photo/Kevin Rivoli, File)
FILE - In this Nov. 14, 2011 file photo, Syracuse basketball coach Jim Boeheim, left, watches the action with assistant coach Bernie Fine, during a college basketball game against Manhattan in the NIT Season Tip-Off in Syracuse, N.Y. Federal authorities have dropped their investigation into sexual abuse claims that cost a Syracuse University assistant basketball coach his job, threw a top-ranked team into turmoil and threatened the career of Hall of Fame coach Boeheim. After a probe spanning nearly a year, U.S. Attorney Richard Hartunian said Friday, Nov. 9, 2012 there was no evidence to support claims that Bernie Fine had molested a boy in 2002 in a Pittsburgh hotel room. (AP Photo/Kevin Rivoli, File)
FILE - This Nov. 14, 2011 file photo shows Syracuse basketball assistant coach Bernie Fine watching a college basketball game against Manhattan in the NIT Season Tip-Off in Syracuse, N.Y. Federal authorities have dropped their investigation into sexual abuse claims that cost Fine his job, threw a top-ranked team into turmoil and threatened the career of Hall of Fame coach Jim Boeheim. After a probe spanning nearly a year, U.S. Attorney Richard Hartunian said Friday, Nov. 9, 2012 there was no evidence to support claims that Fine had molested a boy in 2002 in a Pittsburgh hotel room. (AP Photo/Kevin Rivoli, File)
FILE - In this March 25, 2010 file photo, Syracuse assistant basketball coach Bernie Fine sits on the bench at the end an NCAA West Regional semifinal college basketball game against Butler in Salt Lake City. Federal authorities have dropped their investigation into sexual abuse claims that cost Fine his job, threw a top-ranked team into turmoil and threatened the career of Hall of Fame coach Jim Boeheim. After a probe spanning nearly a year, U.S. Attorney Richard Hartunian said Friday, Nov. 9, 2012 there was no evidence to support claims that Fine had molested a boy in 2002 in a Pittsburgh hotel room. (AP Photo/Steve C. Wilson, File)
FILE - In this Dec. 8, 2011 file photo, Zach Tomaselli, 23, holds a photo of himself and his brother taken at about the time he claims he was was sexually abused in 2002 by former Syracuse basketball coach Bernie Fine, at a news conference in Pittsburgh. Federal authorities have dropped their investigation into sexual abuse claims that cost Fine his job, threw a top-ranked team into turmoil and threatened the career of Hall of Fame coach Jim Boeheim. After a probe spanning nearly a year, U.S. Attorney Richard Hartunian said Friday, Nov. 9, 2012 there was no evidence to support claims that Fine had molested a boy in 2002 in a Pittsburgh hotel room. The investigation erupted in the glare of a spotlight on child abuse shone by the Penn State University scandal that broke shortly beforehand, when Davis and Lang accused the longtime assistant of fondling them when they were teens. (AP Photo/John Heller, File)
FILE - In this Dec. 21, 2011 file photo, former Syracuse ball boy Bobby Davis poses for a photo before an interview in Syracuse, N.Y. Federal authorities have dropped their investigation into sexual abuse claims that cost Syracuse University assistant basketball coach Bernie Fine his job, threw a top-ranked team into turmoil and threatened the career of Hall of Fame coach Jim Boeheim. After a probe spanning nearly a year, U.S. Attorney Richard Hartunian said Friday, Nov. 9, 2012 there was no evidence to support claims that Fine had molested a boy in 2002 in a Pittsburgh hotel room. The investigation erupted in the glare of a spotlight on child abuse shone by the Penn State University scandal that broke shortly beforehand, when Davis and another former ball boy accused the longtime assistant of fondling them when they were teens. (AP Photo/David Duprey, File)
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) ? A man imprisoned in Maine says he was telling the truth when he said former Syracuse University assistant basketball coach Bernie Fine molested him even though federal authorities have now dropped their investigation.
Zachary Tomaselli initially told officials he was molested, then recanted, then reversed course again. He insisted Friday that Fine molested him in a Pittsburgh hotel room in 2002.
In Syracuse, N.Y., a U.S. attorney says there's not enough evidence to support the claim by Tomaselli, who was 23 when he made it nearly a year ago.
Tomaselli says he's gained nothing from telling the story. He thanks law enforcement officials for investigating.
Fine denies the allegation but was fired Nov. 27.
Tomaselli was convicted of sexually abusing a boy at a camp and is serving three years in prison.
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Associated Press writer David Sharp contributed to this story from Portland, Maine.
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