Coach convicted of sexual abuse of a minor

[Mark Padgett]

Here's the latest news on Portland area "private" basketball coach Howard Avery. He was convicted yesterday on three counts of felony sexual abuse of a minor and will serve as much as 23 years, depending on whether the judge administers the sentences concurrently or consecutively.

I'm ashamed to admit I once worked two camps for this guy. It was quite a few years ago. I, along with the injured families, hope he serves the full 23 years.

Basketball coach Howard Avery guilty on all counts - OregonLive.com

[Mark Padgett]

In rereading the story, it was actually five felony counts, not three. Even worse.

BTW - the place where I worked his camps is mentioned in the story. It's the facility now known as "Club Sport". It was called "SportsNation" when I was there at his camps (although I have also worked there since the new owners took over). Ironically, I remember he once asked me about the ruling on how far a ball had to travel upward through the hoop to be considered a violation!

Maybe he can read this forum while in jail.

[Mark Padgett]

Here's a link to a columnist's take on the story.

Victim's family takes on Howard Avery, and wins – OregonLive.com

[zm1283]

And we're the ones that need background checks.

[Mark Padgett]

Read this and the attitude of some of the parents will make you vomit.

Canzano: Howard Avery's conviction is a lesson in parenting – OregonLive.com

[SethPDX]

I have to say, I live in Mark's area and Canzano got this one exactly right.

[Texas Aggie]

And we're the ones that need background checks.

More and more states are requiring teachers, including coaches, to undergo background checks. It isn't just us.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Texas Aggie

More and more states are requiring teachers, including coaches, to undergo background checks. It isn't just us.

I'd be surprise if you could find a state that didn't require checks for teachers and coaches; and it makes perfect sense to me. They have, by the nature of their work, direct authoritative access to children on a daily basis.

[WreckRef]

The reason he didn't need a background check is because he ran his own club, Triple Threat. Had he coached a school team he most certainly would have been required to go through a background check.

I coached basketball at a junior high in Oregon around 10 years ago and was fingerprinted so they could run an FBI background check.

And Mark, no need to be ashamed about working his camps, at the time you had no idea what kind of person he really was.

I used to work at SportsNation when he was running Triple Threat out of there and talked to him on quite a few occasions. I was horrified when I read the first article a couple of years ago.

[Mark Padgett]

The guy gets 15 years.

Basketball coach Howard Avery sentenced to 15 years - OregonLive.com

[Tim C]

Nothing shocks me any more.

I worked several games that Avery played during his senior year in high school.

His team even won the State Championship.

Oh did I mention that he was playing while incarcerated at the Maclaren School for Boys where he was serving time for forcing himself sexually on a 14 year old girl at his local Portland High School.

Somethings never change.

[Hugh Refner]

They ought to lock this guy up for his 15 years in a small room with all the male relatives of those girls!

[Bad Zebra]

The good news here is that he's likely going to a place where he will get the experience of "first-degree sodomy and first-degree unlawful sexual penetration" forced upon him by other inmates.

Kharma.

[Juulie Downs]

Originally Posted by Tim C

Nothing shocks me any more.

I worked several games that Avery played during his senior year in high school.

His team even won the State Championship.

Oh did I mention that he was playing while incarcerated at the Maclaren School for Boys where he was serving time for forcing himself sexually on a 14 year old girl at his local Portland High School.

Somethings never change.

You mean Maclaren won state when he was playing there? I know it wasn't Benson or Washington (where he also attended), because Washington didn't win state in those years, and he wasn't attending Benson his senior year!

[Nevadaref]

Updated: April 13, 2010, 1:09 PM ET
Ex-high school coach pleads not guilty
ESPN.com news services


A former New York high school boys' basketball coach who won multiple city championships and coached players who went on to the NCAA and NBA, including Los Angeles Lakers guard Lamar Odom, pleaded not guilty to charges he raped a 14-year-old boy on a visit to Boston in 1976.
Bob Oliva, 65, pleaded not guilty Monday in Suffolk County District Court in Massachusetts to two counts of child rape and a count of disseminating pornography to a minor. He was indicted last month.
He was released on $10,000 bail and ordered to have no contact with the alleged victim or anyone under the age of 16.
Oliva, considered one of the pre-eminent high school coaches in the New York area for nearly three decades, won 549 games and five city championships in 27 seasons at Christ the King Regional High School, located in Queens. He stepped down last season, citing health problems stemming from the accusations.
Prosecutors said the alleged crimes occurred on or about July 30 to Aug. 1, 1976, at a Boston hotel, when Oliva brought the boy, Jimmy Carlino, to Boston to see a New York Yankees-Boston Red Sox doubleheader.
Carlino, now 48 and living in Florida, reported the alleged assault to Boston police last year.
Oliva's attorney, Michael Doolin, said the former coach "looks forward to his day in court. He looks forward to being found not guilty of these charges."
Prosecutors said Carlino was a family friend who did not play for Oliva at Christ the King.
Carlino's civil attorney, Mitchell Garabedian, said Carlino is testifying against Oliva "so the truth is revealed and to make the world a safer place for children."
Massachusetts prosecutors said they were able to prosecute the 34-year-old case because the statute of limitations remained frozen while Oliva was living outside of the state.
A tentative trial date was set for May 2011.