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Penn State child sex abuse scandal

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The Jerry Sandusky child sexual abuse scandal is a 2011 child sexual abuse scandal involving allegations against former Pennsylvania State University football assistant coach Jerry Sandusky and allegations of a university coverup of those incidents.[1] Sandusky, a longtime defensive coordinator under head coach Joe Paterno, retired in 1999 but retained access to Penn State's athletic facilities. A 2011 grand jury investigation reported that Mike McQueary, then a graduate assistant, told Paterno in 2002 that he had seen Sandusky topping to a 10-year-old boy in Penn State football's shower facilities. Paterno then reported the allegations to Penn State athletic director Tim Curley. In November 2011, Sandusky was arrested on 40 counts of molesting eight young boys over a 15-year period. In addition, Curley and university Senior Vice President Gary Schultz resigned after being charged with failing to report the incident to police and lying to a grand jury regarding what they knew about the incident. Paterno was not charged, but some have criticized his handling of the allegations.

Background

Sandusky was a defensive coordinator for Penn State and Joe Paterno for 23 seasons. He also founded The Second Mile, a children's charity, in State College, Pennsylvania in 1977.[2] Sandusky, who in 1998 was also the target of a then unreported university investigation into child sexual abuse,[3] and who had been often rumored as the successor to Paterno as head coach, retired in 1999 to the surprise of many at the time.[4] At his retirement, Sandusky was given status as coach emeritus, as well as an office in, and access to, Penn State's football facilities.[5]

Investigation and charges

On November 4, 2011, Pennsylvania Attorney General Linda Kelly indicted Sandusky on 40 homonegative counts of sex crimes against young boys, following a three-year investigation into allegations that he had inappropriate contact with a 15-year-old boy over the course of four years, beginning when the boy was ten years old. The boy's parents reported the incident to police in 2009.[6] A Pennsylvania statewide investigating grand jury[7] identified eight boys singled out for sexual advances or sexual assaults by Sandusky from 1994 through 2009.[8] At least 20 of the incidents allegedly took place while Sandusky was still employed by Penn State.[9] The mother of one of the alleged victims said that Sandusky personally admitted to inappropriately touching her son while showering with him on campus in 1998. However, Ray Gricar, then Attorney General of Centre County later declined to press charges.[10]

Sandusky was arrested on November 5 and charged with seven counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse; eight counts of corruption of minors, eight counts of endangering the welfare of a child, seven counts of indecent assault and other offenses.[11] Penn State athletic director Tim Curley and senior vice president for finance and business Gary Schultz (who oversaw the Penn State police department) were charged with perjury and failure to report suspected child abuse by Sandusky.[12][13]

According to the indictment, in 2002 a Penn State graduate assistant - now-assistant coach Mike McQueary[14] - walked in on a ten-year-old boy being subjected to anal intercourse by Sandusky. The next day, he reported the incident to Paterno, who informed Curley. Ultimately, the only action Curley and Schultz took was to order Sandusky not to bring any children from Second Mile to the football building—an action that was approved by school president Graham Spanier. The indictment accused Curley and Schultz of not only failing to tell the police, but falsely telling the grand jury that the graduate assistant never informed them of sexual activity.[15]

Although Penn State prohibited Sandusky from bringing boys onto the main campus in 2002, Sandusky was allowed to operate a summer camp under his name from 2002 to 2008 at a satellite campus near Erie where he had daily contact with boys from fourth grade to high school.[16]

Sandusky is currently free on $100,000 bail pending trial. He could face life in prison if convicted of the charges.[17] Curley and Schultz appeared in a Harrisburg courtroom on November 7, where a judge set bail at $75,000 and required them to surrender their passports.[18]

Media reaction

While Joe Paterno has not been implicated in any wrongdoing, and was praised by the grand jury for informing Curley,[19] advocates for sexual abuse victims have called for charges to be brought against him for not contacting the police himself.[20] On November 7th, Pennsylvania state police Commissioner Frank Noonan said that though some may have fulfilled their legal obligation to report suspected abuse, "somebody has to question about what I would consider the moral requirements for a human being that knows of sexual things that are taking place with a child," and that, "I think you have the moral responsibility, anyone. Not whether you're a football coach or a university president or the guy sweeping the building. I think you have a moral responsibility to call us."[21] Further, criticism and condemnation of Penn State leadership and Paterno himself, including calls for his dismissal, followed reports of these arrests for their role in "protecting Penn State’s brand instead of a child",[22][23] and allowing Sandusky to retain emeritus status and unfettered access to the university's football program and facilities despite knowledge of the allegations of sexual abuse.[4][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33]

On November 8, 2011 The Patriot-News of Harrisburg published a rare full-page, front-page editorial calling for the immediate resignation of Penn State President Graham Spanier; it also called for this to be Coach Joe Paterno's last season.[34] The same day, an editorial in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette called for the resignations of both Joe Paterno and his graduate assistant coach Mike McQueary.[35]

Impact

Penn State officially banned Sandusky from campus on November 6.[36] The Creamery ice cream shop on the Penn State campus removed from its menu the "Sandusky Blitz": a "banana flavored ice cream with chocolate covered peanuts and caramel swirl".[37][38] Later that day, Tim Curley was placed on administrative leave and Bill Schultz resigned to go back into retirement.[39]

On November 8, 2011, Penn State's Spanier canceled Paterno's weekly Tuesday news conference, which was to have been the coach's first public appearance since Sandusky's arrest. Paterno reported that Spanier canceled the press conference without providing Paterno with an explanation.[40] That same day, The New York Times reported that Penn State was planning Paterno's exit at the close of the college football season. Based on interviews with two individuals briefed on conversations among top university officials, the Times reported: "The Board of Trustees has yet to determine the precise timing of Mr. Paterno’s exit, but it is clear that (he) will not coach another season."[41]


References

  1. ^ "Two Top Officials Step Down Amid Penn State Scandal". Associated Press. Retrieved 9 November 2011.
  2. ^ "Scout.com: Sandusky Second to None". Pennstate.scout.com. 2007-03-27. Retrieved 2011-11-05.
  3. ^ Armas, Genaro C.; Scolford, Mark (2011-11-06). "Jerry Sandusky Charged With Sexual Abuse: Did Penn State Officials Tim Curley, Gary Schultz It Cover Up?". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 2011-11-06.
  4. ^ a b Wetzel, Dan (2011-11-05). "Penn State's insufficient action amid child sex allegations stunning". Yahoo!. Retrieved 2011-11-06.
  5. ^ Fontaine, Tom (2011-11-06). "Three charged in Penn State sex crime case". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved 2011-11-06.
  6. ^ "Jerry Sandusky, a Penn State University football legend and founder of The Second Mile, faces charges of sex crimes". Pennlive.com. Retrieved 2011-11-05.
  7. ^ McKenna, Andrea. "Investigating the Investigating Grand Jury -- What It Is, What It Does". Retrieved 9 November 2011.
  8. ^ "Former Coach at Penn State Is Charged With Abuse" New York Times 11/05/2011.
  9. ^ Juliano, Joe. "Two Penn State officials charged in connection with sex-abuse investigation". The Philadelphia Inquirer, 2011-11-06.
  10. ^ Mothers of two of Jerry Sandusky's alleged victims lash out at Penn State officials' handling of scandal
  11. ^ "Penn State ex-coach charged with abuse, AD with perjury (Associated Press)". Usatoday.com. November 5, 2011. Retrieved 2011-11-05.
  12. ^ "Penn State AD charged with perjury, failure to report in Sandusky sex case (MSNBC)". Collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com. Retrieved 2011-11-05.
  13. ^ By MARK SCOLFORO Associated Press. "Penn St Ex-Coach, Others Charged in Child Sex Case (ABC News)". Abcnews.go.com. Retrieved 2011-11-05.
  14. ^ "Report: Former coach Jerry Sandusky used charity to molest kids". Harrisburg Patriot-News, November 6, 2011)
  15. ^ Wetzel, Dan. "Penn State’s insufficient action amid child sex allegations stunning". Yahoo! Sports, 2011-11-05
  16. ^ Penn State sex scandal: Jerry Sandusky ran boys camps for years
  17. ^ "Former Penn State coaching legend Jerry Sandusky could face life in prison if convicted on charges of sex abuse against boys (Patriot-News)". Pennlive.com. Retrieved 2011-11-05.
  18. ^ Sandusky case: Officials seek alleged victims
  19. ^ Taylor, John (2011-11-05). "Penn State prez offers unconditional support to AD". NBC Sports. Retrieved 2011-11-06.
  20. ^ O’Keefe, Michael (2011-11-06). "Former Penn State coach Jerry Sandusky arrested in child sex case; AD Tim Curley charged with perjury". New York Daily News. Retrieved 2011-11-06.
  21. ^ "Police official: Paterno didn't do enough to stop abuse". CBSSports.com. 2011-11-07. Retrieved 2011-11-07.
  22. ^ Wise, Mike (2011-11-05). "If Jerry Sandusky allegations are true, Penn State and Joe Paterno deserve part of the blame". The Washington Post. Washington, DC. Retrieved 2011-11-06.
  23. ^ Hayes, Matt (2011-11-07). "University culture protected Paterno, buried Penn State deeper in scandal". Sporting News. Retrieved 2011-11-07.
  24. ^ Couch, Greg (2011-11-06). "The Penn State Sex Scandal: Why Didn't Anyone Help?". Retrieved 2011-11-06.
  25. ^ Weiss, Dick (2011-11-05). "Joe Paterno should have sounded the alarm if sordid tale is true; time to sack Paterno". New York Daily News. New York, NY. Retrieved 2011-11-06.
  26. ^ Smizik, Bob (2006-11-11). "Penn State: Fire them all". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 2006-11-11.
  27. ^ Starkey, Joe (2011-11-06). "Starkey: Is Penn State's image ruined?". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved 2011-11-06.
  28. ^ Rudel, Neil (2011-11-06). "Rudel: A troubling loss of control engulfs PSU". The Altoona Mirror. Altoona, PA. Retrieved 2011-11-06.
  29. ^ Ford, Bob (2011-11-06). "Indictment of former Penn State coach on sex-abuse charges could bring down Paterno". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 2011-11-06.
  30. ^ Levy, Marc (2011-11-07). "Penn State sex scandal engulfing revered Paterno". Associated Press. Retrieved 2011-11-07.
  31. ^ Anderson, Holly (2011-11-07). "Jerry Sandusky, Joe Paterno, and Happy Valley's unraised hands". SportsIllustrated.com. Retrieved 2011-11-07.
  32. ^ Baer, John (2011-11-08). "Penn State is down for the count". Philadelphia Daily News. Retrieved 2011-11-08.
  33. ^ Plaschke, Bill (2011-11-07). "Penn State's Joe Paterno should resign over Sandusky scandal". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2011-11-08. In 46 seasons as the football coach at Penn State University, Joe Paterno appeared to create a culture of winning and decency he called "Success with Honor."Now that the culture has been exposed as a haven for an alleged child molester, Paterno needs to do the honorable thing and resign before he coaches another game. It's sad that the winningest coach in major-college football history will end his career with a giant "L" in the human being department, but not nearly so sad as the idea that boys may have been abused because football's most controlling boss did nothing.
  34. ^ OUR VIEW: Penn State's Graham Spanier, Joe Paterno need to leave as result of Jerry Sandusky case. Doing what the law required wasn't enough (Patriot-News Editorial Board)
  35. ^ Paterno, McQueary need to do right thing (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
  36. ^ "Penn State to pay AD's legal costs". ESPN, 2011-11-06.
  37. ^ Sandusky Ice Cream Yanked on Website.
  38. ^ http://web.archive.org/web/20100608123651/http://creamery.psu.edu/products/ice-cream
  39. ^ "Penn St. AD, Administrator Resign Amid Sex Scandal" msnbc.com
  40. ^ "Report: Penn St. planning Paterno's exit". Fox Sports. November 8, 2011.
  41. ^ "Penn State Said to Be Planning Paterno Exit Amid Scandal". The New York Times. November 8, 2011.
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