A disturbing incident has rocked a leafy New York City suburb after a longtime youth girls basketball coach was arrested and charged with sexually abusing one of his former players when she was still a 10-year-old girl in 2010.
As reported by The Journal News, Cortland Manor, N.Y. resident Richard Dinizio, a 58-year-old youth basketball coach who traditionally focuses on the 12 and 13-year-old leagues, was arrested and charged with sexual assault in connection with allegations first launched by one of his former players.
According to the arrest affidavit, Dinizio is accused of sexually abusing a young female basketball player when she was 10 and a member of the Westchester Basketball Association youth girls basketball program.
If convicted, Dinizio could face as many as 25 years in prison. Given the traces that authorities used to verify the relationship, including pornographic images of the victim on Dinizio’s computer and mobile devices, the now-former coach may not be interacting with children for much longer.
Equally concerning, of course, is the specter that Dinizio’s crimes could reach farther than one victim. The coach has been an active part of the WBA for roughly 20 years, with authorities speculating that such a lengthy timeframe could be an indication that other victims are out there, still in hiding.
Whether they come forward or are identified or not, what Dinizio already stands accused of is both horrifying and revolting, and more than enough for the WBA to search for ways to ensure it never happens again, by anyone under any circumstances.
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