Hall of Fame baseball writer accused of molesting children in 1970s

PHILADELPHIA – A veteran sportswriter and columnist for the Philadelphia Daily News was accused in a newspaper report Tuesday of molesting three girls and a boy in the 1970s, including his niece, who is now a New Jersey prosecutor.

Authorities said no criminal charges would be pursued against Bill Conlin because of a statue of limitations in force for that time period.

Conlin, a Hall of Fame baseball writer and author, retired just ahead of the story’s publication online by The Philadelphia Inquirer. Conlin’s lawyer said his client would fight the claims.

It was reported that the four accusers claim Conlin fondled them in the 1970s.

Kelley Blanchet, a niece of Conlin’s who is now a prosecutor, and others told the newspaper they were speaking out in part because of the child sex abuse allegations being faced by Jerry Sandusky, a former assistant football coach at Penn State.