Ex-Pat Patricia “falsely accused” in 1996 allegation

ALLEN PARK, Mich. — Detroit Lions coach Matt Patricia said Thursday he was “falsely accused” in a 1996 sexual assault allegation that resurfaced this week, and he indicated that the matter has not been an issue as he has climbed from job to job in the years since.

Patricia held a brief news conference one day after a Detroit News report that he and a friend were indicted 22 years ago by a Texas grand jury on one count each of aggravated sexual assault. They were accused of assaulting a woman on South Padre Island. The accuser did not testify and the case was dismissed.

“I was innocent then, and I am innocent now,” Patricia said.

The Lions said Wednesday night that a pre-employment background check did not turn up the incident. The team said Patricia was 21 at the time and on spring break in Texas. The Lions said they were standing by Patricia.

“I’m here to defend my honor and clear my name. Twenty-two years ago, I was falsely accused of something very serious,” Patricia said . “There were claims made about me that never happened. While I’m thankful on one level that the process worked, and the case was dismissed, at the same time, I was never given the opportunity to defend myself.”

Patricia took a few questions but did not provide details about the day in question.

“I was falsely accused of something that I did not do,” he said.

Patricia’s first NFL coaching job was as an assistant with the New England Patriots in 2004, and he remained with them through last season, when he was the defensive coordinator. He was hired by the Lions in February to replace Jim Caldwell.

Before joining the Patriots, Patricia worked as a graduate assistant in 1996 at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, his alma mater. That was before he spent two years working as an aeronautical engineer. Patricia was an assistant coach at Amherst and a graduate assistant at Syracuse before moving on to the NFL.

Patriots coach Bill Belichick said the team wasn’t aware of the legal case and expressed support for Patricia.

“For 14 years in our organization, Matt conducted himself with great integrity and is known to be an outstanding coach, person and family man,” Belichick said in a statement. “We have always been confident in Matt’s character and recommended him highly to become the head coach of the Detroit Lions.”

EAST PROVIDENCE — Cumberland junior pitcher Nick Croteau only struck out one East Providence batter, but the righty kept the Townies off balance all afternoon to earn the victory in a 7-4 Division I win over the Townies at Pierce Field Thursday afternoon.

Croteau allowed just one run on eight hits in six innings of work to lead the Clippers to their second win in as many days.

“He did an excellent job,” Cumberland coach Andy Tuetken said. “He was ahead in the count all afternoon.”

Cumberland (9-4 Division I) trailed by a run after three innings, but Evan Marcet hit a two-run single in the fourth inning to give the visitors a lead they would never relinquish. Marcet went 3-for-4 with three RBIs a day after going 3-for-3 against Coventry.

Junior catcher Reuben Hancock was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and junior third baseman Joey Molis was 2-for-3 with an RBI.

Cumberland will send Zach Fogell to the mound Tuesday afternoon when Cranston West comes to Tucker Field to start a three-game week for the Clippers.

Cumberland 000 302 2 – 7 10 0

East Providence 100 010 2 - 4 11 2

Nick Croteau, Addison Kopack (7) and Reuben Hancock; Pimental, Cole Pooissant (5) and Poissant, Reis (5). SEEKONK — Devon White sin- gled in James Coleman to give St. Raphael a lead on Wheeler in the first inning Thursday afternoon, but that was as good as it got for the visitors because Dakota Wharton didn’t allow another run in a complete-game effort to lead the Warriors to a 9-1 Division II win.

Coleman and White each had two hits for the Saints, while Rob Costa took the loss after pitching into the sixth inning.

St. Raphael (5-7 Division II) hosts Exeter-West Greenwich today at 4 at Vets Park.

St. Raphael 100 000 0–171 Wheeler 112 302 x – 9 10 1

Rob Costa, Connor O’Brien (6) and Devon White; Dakota Wharton and Zach Levy.

PROVIDENCE — Hope scored first, Shea scored often.

Shea pitcher Brandon Ribeiro struck out five batters and allowed two earned runs, while the Raider also had three runs, two hits, an RBI and three stolen bases to lead Shea to a 13-4 Division III road victory over the Blue Wave Thursday afternoon.

The Raiders also received two hits, two RBIs and two runs scored from Jacob Faria, while catcher Manny Ortiz chipped in with two hits and three RBIs.

Shea (3-10 Division III) faces a pair of familiar foes next week with Davies Tech coming to Max Read Field Tuesday and Central Falls coming to Pawtucket Wednesday.

Shea 002 712 1 – 13 8 2

Hope 102 001 0–466 Brandon Ribeiro, Jacob Faria (7) and Manny Ortiz; Jashua Martinez, Juan DeLeon (4), Junior De La Rosa (6) and Ruben Ogando.

BARRINGTON — The battery of Tim Kenney and Trey Bourque did a little bit of everything to help the Mount St. Charles baseball team defeat Barrington, 7-4, Thursday afternoon.

Kenney struck out six batters and allowed just one earned run in six innings of work, while Bourque had two hits and scored two runs.

Dan Johnson led the offense with two hits and three RBIs, including a two-run single in the third inning to help the Mounties open up a 6-run advantage. Isaiah Lee chipped in with two hits, two stolen bases and a run scored.

Mount St. Charles (8-6 Division II) hosts Mt. Hope Monday at 4 p.m.

Mount St. Charles 330 010 0 – 7 9 3 Barrington 001 003 0–483

Tim Kenney, Isaiah Lee (7) and Trey Bourque; Peecher, Johnson (2), Leadem (6) and Maechulso.