Ex-Penn State Coach Accused of Child Sex Abuse
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(Andy Colwell/The Patriot-News/AP Photo)
An ex-Penn State University football coach was arrested today on charges of sexually abusing children he worked with in an at-risk youth program, and the school’s athletic director and another administrator were accused of lying about the abuse case.
Jerry Sandusky, who was the Nittany Lions’ defensive coordinator before he retired in 1999, was arraigned on 40 criminal counts connected to the alleged sexual abuse of eight boys and released on $100,000 bail, according to the state attorney general’s office.
The two other university officials — athletic director Tim Curley, 57, and vice president for finance and business Gary Schultz, 62, — are charged with perjury and failure to report Sandusky’s behavior. Prosecutors said the two men were expected to turn themselves in Monday in Harrisburg.
“Mr. Sandusky was taken into custody this morning by agents from the attorney general’s office and Pennsylvania State Police,” Pennsylvania state attorney general spokesman Mils Frederiksen said. “Mr. Curley and Mr. Shultz are scheduled to surrender in Harrisburg on Monday.”
Frederiksen said there was compelling evidence against the coach.
“A graduate student at Penn State University who discovered or allegedly discovered Sandusky assaulting a young boy in the showers in the football building in the locker room of the Penn State University Campus,” he said.
In addition to coaching at Penn State, Sandusky worked with at risk children through his Second Mile foundation, the prosecutors’ spokesman said.
“We believe that all eight of the victims he’s accused of sexually assaulting were identified and were part of the Second Mile program,” Frederiksen said.
Penn State legend Joe Paterno, the team’s longtime head coach, was not charged, authorities said. According to The Associated Press, the grand jury report said Paterno immediately reported an allegation of abuse against Sandusky as soon as he learned of it, but Sandusky was no longer coaching at the time.
Penn State President Graham Spanier said it was “appropriate” that the “troubling” allegations about Sandusky be investigated. But he said Curley and Schultz have his “unconditional support.”
“I have known and worked daily with Tim and Gary for more than 16 years. I have complete confidence in how they have handled the allegations about a former University employee,” he said. “Tim Curley and Gary Schultz operate at the highest levels of honesty, integrity and compassion. I am confident the record will show that these charges are groundless and that they conducted themselves professionally and appropriately. ”
Schultz’ attorney Tom Farrell and Curley’s lawyer Caroline Roberto said their clients were not guilty and the charges would be proven to be false.
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The volleyball coach Russ rose married one of his former players. Odd don’t you think?
Posted by: Doug | November 5, 2011, 6:19 pm 6:19 pm
What is odd about Russ Rose marrying a former player? Weren’t they both adults? They have been married for years and have kids. Not exactly pedophilia.
Posted by: EJW | November 5, 2011, 9:04 pm 9:04 pm
Too many people worry about “stranger danger” when the most likely abusers are those they trust and are right under their noses. Case in point….
Posted by: WorkingClass | November 5, 2011, 11:27 pm 11:27 pm
I read, elsewhere in greater detail, that the grad student walked in and observed the coach anally penetrating a 10 or 11 year old boy in the shower of the locker room. Sick and disturbing, I can only imagine how horrified he was when he revealed to the authorities what happened. Sadly, no one investigated these allegations at the time to stop the abuse before it reached this many children. You’ve got to wonder if there are more children and whether he assaulted any of the football players on the team. Seriously, if he’ll assault little boys, what’s to stop him from assaulting young men in the football program. I bet parents with thoughts of sending their children to play football for the university are having second thoughts. Afterall, this, if proven true, was allowed to continue on by the AD, another director, and probably other leaders who knew about the allegations and did nothing.
Posted by: Myak23 | November 6, 2011, 12:19 am 12:19 am
Mr. Frederiksen’s first name is “Nils” with an N. Might want to fix that.
Posted by: Megan | November 6, 2011, 1:11 am 1:11 am
Thae Catholic Scandal is just the door opeener. I have sadi this for along time! Statistcs showed time and time again that this is NOT pandemic to just church institutions but also, unfortunately, to MANY institutions!!! Why does the media continue its efforts to go really take the bull by its horns and reveal just how serious it is among all institutions!
Posted by: Moon | November 6, 2011, 5:16 am 5:16 am
This case & the Texas judge abusing his daughter are sad examples of how insufficiently our society protects children. We are more vigilant in protecting animals.
Posted by: AJ | November 6, 2011, 6:20 am 6:20 am
What’s the problem? According to liberals, the coach is just exercising ‘who he is’. So, this conduct is normal right? A 14 year old? Maybe he consented? Maybe we should have a new debate concerning ‘age appropriate’ sexual activity. Afterall, the liberals want condoms in junior/middle schools anyway.
Posted by: stephen | November 6, 2011, 7:14 am 7:14 am
It is funny How Jo Pa doesn’t like the Dems like Clinton or Obama; but of their liberal and bad ways. But he has a Child Molestor on this coaching staff. He most likley is a GOP supporter too. Jo Pa should be forced to retire at the end of this season for either not taking this more seriously or maybe he is to old to know better.
Posted by: TJ | November 6, 2011, 7:47 am 7:47 am
Since college ball is more important than religion itself or should I say is the new religion, we shall be stern as we are with the UGA players whom are arrested weekly. First we will teach the coach how to spell his name and then make him write on the blackboard 100 times I will not molest children. We will then offer the victims a free college education, excluding sex as it would seem they already had that one, and one year’s free tickets to the games. Mind you this is a lot sterner than what the UGA players would get and will send a clear message that this type of behavior will not be tolerated, heard that one before?
Posted by: greg | November 6, 2011, 7:57 am 7:57 am
Jerry Sandusky, and all the Penn State people who knew of these acts or witnessed them occurring all are GUILTY of violating these innocent children! How the heck can someone see this happen and walk away and merely tell the school official????? What about stopping the perp with whatever means it takes and protecting the poor victims then calling the police and?????? I could NEVER not react the way I just described if I witnessed this happening! They all need to be punished, innocent lives have forever been ruined, Paterno included!! Witnessing a crime and walking away makes someone just as guilty, how the heck could they not protect these poor children????
I was a victim and let me tell you, you ARE FOREVER changed when this happens to you as a child, I TRUST NO ADULT with my children now, I NEVER assume someone is safe!
SHAME on all of them who were involved, they ALL are guilty and should be punished with more than just a slap on the hand!!! Pedophiles are not punished nearly harshly enough for the permanent damage they inflict! Society needs to take greater action against child molesters. Victims lives get forever damaged and altered by these sick creeps and that should be punished as severely as murder!
Posted by: gn | November 6, 2011, 9:25 am 9:25 am
stephen You have some issues. How can anyone be so consumed with stupidity that they use this story to attack liberals. But since you want to go that way I’ll be you anything this guy is a religious conservative. Now you tell me which is worse someone that advocates condom us or someone that has guy sex with under age kids? Seriously seek help
Posted by: bp | November 6, 2011, 9:44 am 9:44 am
I just found the secret to a successful diet. Every time I feel the urge to eat something I shouldn’t, I’ll just think of this low-life, putrid piece of slime! Why don’t we put him away forever with a bunch of inmates bigger and stronger than him and let them do to him what he did to those innocent young boys and see how he likes it!!
Posted by: sickened | November 6, 2011, 1:15 pm 1:15 pm
Ok well PSU will be put off the map for this mistake. To many times – to many people, this is not the school that it’s made out to be people. Sure this is only a small group of people making a huge/horrific thing to innocent children… Imagine what else this “Great Campus” does behind closed doors!!? Well investigators are in town and these doors may be opening up. Let’s hope their skeletons don’t show!!! I’m sorry to voice my opinion, but let’s face it the powerful Penn State is looking at hurt wallet here soon, and I hope students will think twice before attending.
Posted by: Frank | November 7, 2011, 12:27 am 12:27 am
If it were your child, what would you believe Paterno should have done? Curley? Schultz? Spanier? Regardless of each other, how should their moral compass guide them?
Paterno, Curley, Schultz, and Spanier are each culpable for all harm that came to any child by Sandusky since, at the latest, 2002
Paterno, Curley, Schultz, and Spanier would have handled it differently had Sandusky embezzled from the program.
Paterno, Curley, Schultz, and Spanier would have handled it differently had it been their own children, or grandchildren, rather than vulnerable at risk children with less recourse. -The privileged exploiting the vulnerable children.
Paterno, Curley, Schultz and Spanier put a football program over the safety of our children.
Penn State would have handled it differently had it been a different program.
They violated their responsibility to the school, the students, the community, the children, and the graduate student that turned to them for guidance, and to any morality, ethics, or integrity. Instead of being role models and providing guidance to the graduate assistant, they inculcated him into the self-serving world of cover-ups.
Paterno,, Curley, Schultz, and Spanier have further damaged the image of corrupt football in America.
They are morally corrupt. -Despite the charming images we have believed for years.
They deserve the same consequences the non-privileged would face. The same consequences the weirdo, unhygienic recluse in the ill-kempt house down the road would face. Or worse. They were looked to, set themselves up as, leaders of integrity. Transparency, honesty, and accountability a decade ago would have preserved and cemented their sought-after moral reputations as leaders of the community they, instead, betrayed.
Were charges held back until Paterno made his record???
Posted by: Yael | November 7, 2011, 12:53 pm 12:53 pm
Leave JoePa out of this! He followed protocol and went to his higher-ups when he was informed of what was seen. I agree that Sandusky be outed permenantly, but come on, JoePa should not be fired for doing what was required and informing his superior. He is not the one who committed any sort of crime or was involved in any way. Ridiculous!
Posted by: NIC C | November 8, 2011, 5:44 pm 5:44 pm