Ex-coach charged with making false abuse claimss

July 18, 2012 at 8:33a.m.

NORRISTOWN, Pa. (AP) — Authorities say a suburban Philadelphia high school lacrosse coach who lost his job launched a campaign of false sex-abuse reports that detectives spent more than 180 hours investigating.

Former Lansdale Catholic High School coach Tim Udinski was charged Tuesday with harassment and stalking. Prosecutors in Montgomery County say Udinski took advantage of renewed attention given to sex-abuse complaints to target his successor and another coach at the school.

Investigators say Udinski admitted making the false reports when confronted. He allegedly told police he submitted anonymous reports to the Archdiocese of Philadelphia because he was upset about losing his job.

Authorities say Udinski had previously been the target of unfounded allegations himself.