Coach allegedly made false abuse allegations to Phila. archdiocese

A former Lansdale Catholic High School lacrosse coach has been arrested and charged after allegedly making false claims of sexual abuse in anonymous e-mails to the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

“The cost to the men subjected to the false accusations is impossible to measure,” the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office said in a July 17 statement, announcing Timothy Udinski’s arrest on charges of harassment and stalking.

On June 21, Udinski told detectives that he sent the archdiocese seven anonymous fabricated reports, targeting officials associated with the Catholic school where he had coached boys’ lacrosse. He said he made the false reports he was “furious” and “mad at the school for the way I was treated.”

According to the Distict Attorney’s office, Udinski himself “was the target of unfounded accusations” of an unspecified nature. He was dismissed from his coaching duties after a series of heated arguments with players and staff.

After his dismissal, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia received an Oct. 19 e-mail stating that Lansdale Catholic’s head football coach had sexually propositioned a team member. The message accused the school’s principal of failing to take action against the football coach.

In March 2012, two anonymous messages were sent to the archdiocese claiming that the high school’s current lacrosse coach was involved in a case of sexual assault. A further message warned that the media would be informed of this allegation.

Later that month, a series of anonymous e-mails were sent to the archdiocese and local media outlets, containing allegations against the school. [More]

SOURCE

CNA