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Renowned NYC Prep Coach Indicted on Rape Charges philly.com March 26, 2010 http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/sports/89251112.html A legendary New York City high school basketball coach is accused in an indictment of raping a 14-year-old player during a trip they took to Boston decades ago. Bob Oliva was indicted by a grand jury yesterday on charges including two counts of rape. The assault allegedly took place in 1976 at a Boston hotel. Prosecutors at the Suffolk District Attorney's office said they were able to charge Oliva in the case because the statute of limitations was frozen while Oliva lived out of state. Oliva, 65, won 549 games in 27 seasons at Christ the King Regional High School, coaching future NBA players such as Lamar Odom. He resigned last year, citing heart problems. An attorney for Oliva said his client is innocent and looks forward to coming to Massachusetts to clear his name. Two years ago, when the accusation first became public, an attorney from Queens, Thomas Ognibene, told the New York Daily News, "Bob is absolutely distraught over this. It's a shame that somebody's whole reputation and life have to be jeopardized by this. It is nonsense. His friends and loved ones know this is an extortion attempt.'' Jake Wark, a spokesman for Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley, said his office does not release names of sexual-assault victims. But a man named Jimmy Carlino told the New York Daily News last year that Oliva, his coach at the St. Teresa of Avila youth basketball program, had molested him for several years during the 1970s. |
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