Former Coach Arrested for Making False Accusations about Coaches at Lansdale Catholic

Montgomery County District Attorney
July 17, 2012

http://da.montcopa.org/da/CWP/View.asp?a=1625&q=86836


Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman announces the arrest of Tim Udinski for stalking and harassment charges. The charges stem from the defendant deliberately making false accusations of sexual misconduct against officials associated with Lansdale Catholic High School. Between October 19, 2011 and May 31, 2012, on seven separate occasions, Udinski sent false claims of sexual abuse in anonymous emails to the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. In these emails, he deliberately and falsely claimed that both the Lansdale Catholic football and lacrosse coaches were engaged in sexual solicitation of players on their respective teams. Udinski also accused the Lansdale Catholic Principal of failing to take any action regarding the alleged misconduct.

Tim Udinski was the former head lacrosse coach at Lansdale Catholic High School. During his tenure at the school, Udinski was the target of unfounded accusations. While coaching the 2011 lacrosse season, Lansdale Catholic relieved Udinski of his duties after he engaged in repeated heated arguments with players and staff. Principal Tim Quinn reported that Udinski was extremely upset about his firing.

Subsequent to Udinski's firing, on October 19, 2011, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia received an anonymous email alleging that the head football coach had sexually solicited a player. The email included an accusation that the Principal, himself a former football player at Lansdale Catholic, had a history of ignoring any complaints about the coach.

On March 12, and March 14, 2012 the Archdiocese received two anonymous emails complaining that Lansdale Catholic's head lacrosse coach had been involved in a sexual assault while attending Lehigh University. Again on March 15, 2012 the Archdiocese received an anonymous email threatening to inform the media about the allegations involving the lacrosse coach. This email was followed by numerous anonymous emails on March 22, to the Archdiocese and local media outlets concerning wrongdoing at Lansdale Catholic High School.

On May 9, 2012, the Archdiocese received an anonymous email stating that the coach sexually assaulted a lacrosse player at Lansdale Catholic. He was also accused of inviting the player to the shore and offering him beer. The complaint included another accusation that the Principal was ignoring the complaints. On May 31, 2012, another anonymous communication was sent to the Archdiocese again referencing the lacrosse coach attempting to lure his players to the shore to engage in sexual activity. Principal Quinn was accused of covering up. The email demanded the principal's resignation and jail time for the coach.

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia notified Montgomery County Law Enforcement Officials of the allegations. The Montgomery County Detective Bureau undertook an investigation of these serious accusations. Twelve county detectives and staff members were tasked with investigating these repeated, anonymous reports of sexual abuse against two high school coaches. Detectives devoted in excess of 184 hours to investigating the accusations against the coaches. During the inquiry, law enforcement officers interviewed 97 people and executed 10 court orders and search warrants. At the conclusion of an exhaustive and comprehensive investigation, detectives and prosecutors concluded that the allegations against both coaches were false and unfounded. The estimated cost to Montgomery County taxpayers to investigate these multiple false reports was over $8250.00. The cost to the men subjected to the false accusations is impossible to measure.

Through the investigation Montgomery County Detectives developed Tim Udinski as the subject who sent the anonymous communications to the Archdiocese. On June 21, 2012, Detectives went to Udinski's residence to interview him about this case. Udinski admitted to sending the seven anonymous emails to the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Udinski stated that all the complaints were untrue. He admitted he specifically targeted the Lansdale Catholic football coach and lacrosse coach. Udinski told detectives that he made these false reports because, "I was mad at the school for the way I was treated. I was just furious."

The defendant was video arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Harold Borak today and bail was set at $25,000.00 unsecured. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 27, 2012 at 10:30 A.M.

The case will be prosecuted by the Captain of the Major Crimes Team, Assistant District Attorney Jesse S. King.

APPROVED FOR RELEASE:

RISA VETRI FERMAN

CRIMINAL CHARGES, AND ANY DISCUSSION THEREOF, ARE MERELY ALLEGATIONS AND ALL DEFENDANTS ARE PRESUMED INNOCENT UNTIL AND UNLESS PROVEN GUILTY.