Image Source: (Jezebel.com)

BY TOM MARTIN

ANCHOR ANA COMPAIN-ROMERO

It’s a new ballgame in the case against former Syracuse assistant basketball coach Bernie Fine. The case lost one accuser in Floyd VanHooser this week. As of Friday, better make that two.

In an interview with the Syracuse Post-Standard, Zach Tomaselli, who says Fine sexually molested him, is now changing his original story:

Tomaselli: "I lost a lot of support and I’ve been trying really hard to gain back support to the point that I lied.”
Post-Standard: “But you did lie to us?”
Tomaselli: “Yes, I did. I lied to you."

Tomaselli gave the Post-Standard doctored emails with a Syracuse detective that accused Fine of molestation. Friday he texted the newspaper to say he’s dropping his case because he’s “sick of this”:

"Im guna ask the police to end the bernie fine investigation. I'm done," he wrote in one text message. "But he did do it. Im not lying," Tomaselli said in a second message.”

So what happens now? Syracuse fired Fine in November after four accusers stepped forward -- just two remain. Deadspin’s Dom Cosentino says the evidence isn’t there:

“The stories of Fine's first two accusers, Bobby Davis and Michael Lang, were found to be "credible" by the DA, but because the statute of limitations has expired, their allegations cannot be prosecuted. Which means that, barring some actual evidence to bolster whatever's left of Tomaselli's claim, there will be no criminal case against Bernie Fine.”

The Big Lead says an old audio tape of Fine’s wife’s concerns about possible abuse could be the accusers’ last resort:

“It will come down to where we were when the story first broke, and only a little ahead of what ESPN knew 8 years ago. The tape recording is still damaging, and certainly casts a bad light on Fine and his wife.”

Syracuse sports blogger Sean Keeley writes, whatever happens in court, the shifting stories could hurt victims anywhere.

“This is now turning into a worst-case scenario for defenders of child abuse victims and victims rights advocates. The alleged crimes perpetrated by Bernie Fine are horrendous. The crime of pretending to be a victim of those crimes isn't just as bad, but it's pretty terrible and could have long-last effects (see: Duke lacrosse rape case).”