Bergen Catholic wrestling program won't face criminal charges for abuse allegations

Keldy Ortiz | NorthJersey

Show Caption Hide Caption Who Is Bergen Catholic coach Coach David Bell? A look at the life and career of Bergen Catholic wrestling coach David Bell, who is named a lawsuit by a former student athlete and his parents.

Investigators will not pursue a criminal case against Bergen Catholic High School officials who have been accused in a civil lawsuit of sexual and verbal abuse at its nationally recognized wrestling program, a Bergen County Prosecutor's Office spokeswoman confirmed Wednesday.

A civil complaint filed by a former wrestler against school officials that spurred the probe by the Prosecutor's Office remains active. That complaint, which names wrestling coaches and the Newark Archdiocese, includes claims that a coach shared pornographic images and that coaches watched wrestlers strip naked and sent inappropriate text messages to athletes.

School officials have denied the claims since they were made public earlier this year.

David Eisbrouch, an attorney for the former wrestler in the lawsuit, said the closing of the investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office was news to him.

“In the event it has been closed, we feel that it is premature and that a thorough investigation has not been completed,” Eisbrouch said. “We shall be sending a letter to the acting prosecutor, Dennis Calo, shortly. If necessary, we shall be contacting the Attorney General’s Office. It’s our intent to pursue all criminal and civil remedies.”

The Prosecutor's Office spokeswoman did not comment further.

The civil complaint filed in Superior Court in Bergen County alleges that wrestling head coach David Bell inappropriately undressed with minors and watched wrestlers change in the locker room. The lawsuit said the incidents went unreported to the Oradell Police Department.

Bell, according to the complaint, made "inappropriate" comments to the wrestler, telling the wrestler he was "shredded," a reference to his muscular build, and "texted and emailed Plaintiff that he loved him, as well as other highly inappropriate and sexual predatory behavior on a minor child."

In December, an assistant coach, Dominick "Donnie" Spataro, showed "pornographic and nude photographs of himself and others on his mobile phone to Plaintiff and other minor wrestlers," the suit says.

The former wrestler and his parents allege that the school's president, Brother Brian Walsh, threw him off the team after he complained of the abuse during the past wrestling season, according to the suit.

Jim Goodness, Newark Archdiocese spokesman, would not comment on the matter. Messages for Spataro’s and Bell’s lawyers, and for school spokesman Steve Mangione, were not returned.

However, school officials and representatives have adamantly denied the allegations.

"Let's be very clear that the administration has zero tolerance for the actions alleged in this complaint — and consistent with our zero tolerance policy and protocols, despite not having been served the complaint until today, the administration reported these allegations to the Archdiocese of Newark and the Bergen County prosecutor's office when it first learned of them," Walsh had said in a statement when the allegations were made public. "With that said, the administration believes that this lawsuit is based on allegations that are unfounded, frivolous and untrue."

The wrestler's parents allege that their complaints to school officials were ignored and that Walsh told them he conducted an investigation by speaking to the head coach.

When the parents pressed the school president, they allege in the suit, Walsh told them "enough is enough" and that "your son is no longer on the team."

Sean M. Pena, Bell's attorney, previously wrote in a letter to NorthJersey.com and The Record on behalf of Bell that the suit was brought by the family of a wrestler at the Oradell school who had been "falling short in wrestling competition."

In an earlier statement to The Record, Bell had said that he was being attacked at the pinnacle of his career.

"Unfortunately, in hyper-competitive environments inevitably people fall short," Bell had said. "When people fall short far too often rather than taking accountability for their own shortcomings, they look to strike a blow at anyone they perceive is the reason for their failure."

The lawsuit was filed on March 26 on behalf of one former wrestler and mentions up to 100 other victims in anticipation of more plaintiffs joining the case. Eisbrouch said lawyers been contacted by alleged victims, but none has joined the lawsuit.

Former wrestlers took to Twitter after the allegations were made public to defend Bell and the wrestling program.

The Bergen Catholic wrestling team was ranked No. 1 in the nation at one point during the 2017-18 season after a 33-19 win over Blair Academy at the Who's Number One tournament in January.

The Crusaders won the most individual titles at the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association Wrestling Championships earlier this year, with three. They have won 12 individual titles in the last four years.

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