Syracuse sex abuse scandal widens

Syracuse, N.Y. - Newly emerging evidence of alleged sex abuse has cost veteran assistant basketball coach Bernie Fine his job at Syracuse University. The ugly scandal has destroyed a reputation and rocked a campus.

Syracuse University fired Fine after a third allegation of sexual abuse and the discovery of a 10-year-old audio recording. On the tape, Fine's wife acknowledges her husband's alleged sexual abuse while speaking with one of his accusers, Bobby Davis.

During the phone call, Laurie Fine is heard saying, "I think he did the things he did, but somehow through his own mental telepathy he has erased them out of his mind."

Davis accuses Fine of repeatedly molesting him in the coach's home, at Syracuse and on basketball road trips. Davis was a ball boy for six years.

During the call, Davis says, "He tried to make me touch him a couple times. He would grab my hand and then I would pull away."

Davis also claims he had a sexual relationship with Fine's wife when he was 18.

And what's more, a third accuser, 23-year old Zach Tomaselli, says Fine molested him when he was 13.

"He put his hand down my shorts and began to fondle me," according to Tomaselli.

But Tomaselli may have a credibility issue. He faces sexual assault charges in Maine and his father says he's lying about Fine.

Meanwhile, members of the Syracuse Club of Western New York are saddened by the scandal, but pleased that Syracuse Chancellor Nancy Cantor took quick action to fire Fine.

"We do not tolerate abuse. And that's really Chancellor Cantor's take home message," club member Craig Johnson told News 4.

Club member Jerry Kelly also weighed-in on the controversy, saying, "You're always worried about the perception of the university, and it can affect it. So, it's sad, but I'm thrilled that they acted quickly."

Bernie Fine denies all the allegations, but he's lost support from the university where he worked for 36 years and from Head Coach Jim Boeheim. Boeheim has backed away from his earlier support of Fine.

"We'll let this thing play out," Boeheim told reporters.

He also posted a statement on Facebook: "I deeply regret any statements I made that might have been insensitive to victims of abuse."

Syracuse University says the audio recordings that have now surfaced were not provided to university officials who investigated the allegations six years ago.

A federal search warrant was executed at Bernie Fine's home on Friday. Agents reportedly took filing cabinets and a computer.

Fine has not been charged with any crimes and has said he is not guilty of the accusations.