Bill Conlin Accused in New Molestation Charges
Two new women have come forward with child molestation accusations against celebrated sports writer, Bill Conlin.
Linda Stella, a childhood friend of Conlin’s daughter, reported to the Daily News that she had been molested by Conlin as a young girl, at his New Jersey home. The second accuser asked to remain anonymous, but reported that Conlin molested her when she was 7-years-old.
These accusations come, following accusations that were made by a three women and one man earlier this week. Conlin has retired to his condominium in Florida and denied making comments to reporters.
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Earlier reports stated that Conlin had retired from his position at the Philadelphia Daily News, after its sister company the Philadelphia Inquirer, announced plans to publish a story Tuesday about the molestation accusations. His retirement was confirmed later that day.
“The four say Conlin groped and fondled them, and touched their genitals, in assaults in the 1970s, when they were from ages 7 to 12,” The Philadelphia Inquirer reported.
In response to the allegations, Daily News editor Larry Platt told the Philadelphia Inquirer, "I can't even begin to express the shock, sadness, and outrage I feel by what Bill Conlin is alleged to have done."
Parents of the victims have corroborated the accusations. Kelley Blanchet, a niece of Conlin's, is one of the accusers. Her father, Harry Hasson, explained he was angry and confronted Conlin after his daughter said she was molested. “He swore to me that he just touched her leg. Then all of a sudden, he started crying,” he said.
Initial reports stated that the accusers came forward because mass coverage of the Jerry Sandusky case brought back old memories.
Sandusky, a former football coach at Penn State University has been charged with 52 counts of child sex abuse made by 10 adult men who say he abused them as children.
However, prosecutors will not be able to pursue the Conlin case because it falls under the statute of limitations, according to investigators.
In an article titled “Tough Guys Are Talking About Sandusky,” Bil Conlin himself wrote that people threatened they would have beaten Sandusky had they known about the alleged assault.
“Everybody says he will do the right thing, get involved, put his own a** on the line before or after the fact. But the moment itself has a cruel way of suspending our fearless intentions,” he said.
Another accuser, Karen Healey, told the Philadelphia Inquirer that she was surprised at how everyone had reacted. "Nobody called the cops," said Healey. "Everyone went back to living their lives.”
Conlin has worked at the Philadelphia Daily News since 1965 and denies the accusations. “Mr. Conlin is obviously floored by the allegations... He has engaged me to do everything possible to bring the true facts forward and to vindicate his name,” his lawyer said in a statement.
