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Penn State child sex abuse scandal

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Penn State President Graham Spanier, fired in response to the scandal.
Penn State football coach Joe Paterno, fired in response to the allegations.

The Jerry Sandusky child sexual abuse scandal involves allegations made in 2011 against former Pennsylvania State University football assistant coach Jerry Sandusky and an alleged cover-up of those incidents by the university.[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 in 2000 a Penn State janitor named James Calhoun witnessed Sandusky in Penn State football's shower facilities performing oral sex on a boy between the ages of 11 and 13. He reported the incident to his immediate supervisor, Jay Witherite, but neither passed it along to school or police officials. The investigation reported that in 2002 Mike McQueary, then a graduate assistant, told Paterno that he had seen Sandusky performing a sex act on a 10-year-old boy in Penn State football's shower facilities. Paterno then reported the allegations to Penn State athletic director Tim Curley. The grand jury report found that prior to 2000, Penn State University police were aware of two victims and had a wire recording of Sandusky admitting that he had showered and made physical contact with one of the victims, yet did not press charges. 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 and University President Graham Spanier were not charged, but both received criticism for their handling of the allegations. On November 9, Paterno announced he would retire at the end of the season, but hours later, he and Spanier were formally removed from their positions by the Penn State Board of Trustees. On November 11, Penn State assistant coach Mike McQueary was placed on indefinite, administrative leave by Penn State's newly-appointed President, Rodney Erickson.

Background

Sandusky was an assistant coach under head coach Joe Paterno for the Penn State football team for 31 seasons from 1969 to 1999. He was the team's defensive coordinator for 23 of those seasons.[2] In 1977, Sandusky founded The Second Mile, a charity formed to help troubled young boys, in State College, Pennsylvania.[3] In 1998, he was investigated by Penn State officials for sexual abuse of a child, but no charges were filed.[4] In 1999, Sandusky retired from his position as Penn State's defensive coordinator, but he remained as a coach emeritus with 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 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 mother reported the incident to police in 2008.[6] A Pennsylvania statewide investigating grand jury identified eight boys singled out for sexual advances or sexual assaults by Sandusky from 1994 through 2009.[7][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 ("Victim 6" in the indictment) said that Sandusky personally admitted to inappropriately touching her son while showering with him on campus in 1998. However, Ray Gricar, district attorney of Centre County at that time, declined to press charges.[10] As Gricar disappeared under mysterious circumstances in 2005 and has since been legally declared dead, he was unavailable to testify.

Illustration of victims, people with alleged knowledge of alleged crimes, and official responses as of November 11, 2011

Sandusky was arrested on November 5 and charged with seven counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, as well as eight counts of corruption of minors, eight counts of endangering the welfare of a child, seven counts of indecent assault, and other offenses.[11] Two Penn State administrators were charged with perjury and failure to report suspected child abuse by Sandusky. Senior vice president for finance and business Gary Schultz, who oversaw the Penn State police department, and Tim Curley, the athletic director, were found to be not credible by the grand jury.[12][13]

Despite this history, no criminal charges were brought against Sandusky until after an investigation initiated in the Spring of 2008 when the mother of one of the boys (identified in court papers as "Victim 1") reported the abuse during his freshman year at Central Mountain High School in Clinton County, Pennsylvania. According to court papers, Sandusky had been having a relationship involving "inappropriate touching" with Victim 1 since 2005 or 2006, when the boy was 11 or 12. Sandusky had met the boy through the Second Mile program. Sandusky retired from Second Mile in 2010.[14]

In December 2010, assistant coach Mike McQueary appeared before the grand jury looking into the Victim 1 case. McQueary testified that, on March 1, 2002, at 9:30 p.m., he entered the locker room at the Lasch Football Building at Penn State and heard what he believed to be the sounds of sexual activity coming from the shower. He looked in the shower and "saw a naked boy, Victim 2, whose age he estimated to be ten years old, with his hands up against the wall, being subjected to anal intercourse by a naked Sandusky."[15][16] The next day, McQueary 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. Since no formal police investigation was conducted at the time, the identity and exact age of Victim 2 is not known.[14][2]

As the investigation evolved six more victims were identified (another one was subpoenaed but was serving in the military out of the country and so could not testify):

  • Victim 3 - Met Sandusky in summer of 2000 through Second Mile. They would shower together and Sandusky was accused of bear hugging him naked both face to face and behind. The boy accompanied Sandusky to Penn State games as well as Holuba Hall[17]
  • Victim 4 - Was an an acquaintance of Victim 3 and also from Second Mile. The relationship began in 1996 or 1997 when he was 12 or 13. He would stay with the Sandusky at the Toftrees Golf Resort (where Penn State staff and team stayed prior to home games). He would engage in "soap battles" in the shower where soap was thrown the boy and then evolve into a wrestling match. He was part of Sandusky's family party to the 1998 Outback Bowl and 1999 Alamo Bowl. He testified that Sandusky inserted his penis in his mouth and sometimes ejaculated. Victim 4 was in a video about the team's linebackers and appeared in Sports Illustrated in a report on the linebackers.[18]
  • Victim 5 - Met Sandusky in 1995 or 1996 when he was 7 or 8 through Second Mile. He attended at least 15 games as Sandusky's guest. At one time in the showers at Penn State he said Sandusky had Victim 5 place his hand on Sandusky's erect penis.[19]
  • Victim 6 - Was an acquaintance of Victim 5 and met Sandusky through Second Mile when he was 7 or 8. In 1998 when he was 11 Sandusky showered with him in Holluba Hall and bear hugged him from behind. When he came home with his hair wet, his mother reported incident to Penn State police. It was investigated by Detective Ronald Shreffler. Centre County District Attorney Ray Gricar chose not to prosecute. Shreffler testified before the Grand Jury that director of the campus police Thomas Harmon told him to drop the case. Shreffler testified that another 11-year-old boy also had a similar instance with Sandusky at about the same time (the Grand Jury attempted to subpoena the other other boy but he was out of the country in the military). State College Police detective Ralph Ralston, with the consent of the mother of Victim 6, eavesdropped on a conversation between the mother and Sandusky which she confronted him on May 13 and 19, 1998 about the shower incident. He said it had showered with other boys and refused her demand that he discontinue doing it.[20] Sandusky retired from Penn State coaching in 1999 at age 55.
  • Victim 7 - Met Sandusky through the Second Mile program in 1994 when he was 10 and was an acquaintance of Victim 6. He would go to games and be allowed on the field. He said Sandusky touched his thigh in the car and had put his hands in the underpants waistband. He and Sandusky showered together at Holuba Hall in the East Area locker rooms. He said he had been contacted by Sandusky in the days prior to his testimony.[21]
  • Victim 8 - In 2000 janitor James Calhoun observed Sandusky giving oral service to a boy in the Lasch Building showers. Physical Plant employee Ronald Petrosky saw the two leave the assistant coaches' shower area and describe the boy between the ages of 11 or 13. Petrosky said they left hand in hand. No police report was made and the identity of the boy is unknown. Calhoun is in a nursing home suffering from dementia and so was deemed not competent to testify.[22]

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.[23]

Sandusky is currently free on $100,000 bail pending trial. He could face life in prison if convicted of the charges.[24] 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.[25]

Media reaction

College Avenue and Allen Street in State College, Pennsylvania, the location of the November 9-10 riot.

While Joe Paterno was not accused of legal wrongdoing by the grand jury,[7] advocates for sexual abuse victims have called for charges to be brought against him for not contacting the police himself.[26] On November 7, 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."[27]

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",[28][29] 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.[2] In an interview with New York City radio station WFAN, noted sports reporter Kim Jones, a Penn State alumna, stated that, "I can't believe [Paterno's] heart is that black, where he simply never thought about [Sandusky's 2002 incident] again and never thought about those poor kids who were looking for a male mentor, a strong man in their life."[30] Former sports commentator Keith Olbermann called for Paterno to be immediately fired, saying that "he failed all of the kids—the kid kids and the player kids—he purported to be protecting."[31]

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 Joe Paterno's last season.[32] The same day, an editorial in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette called for the resignations of both Joe Paterno and his assistant coach Mike McQueary.[33]

Maureen Dowd, writing a syndicated op-ed, criticized Penn State for allegations that several members of its staff, from the University President down to a graduate assistant, covered up sexual abuse by Sandusky.[34] College football coach Barry Switzer stated that

Having been in this profession a long time and knowing how close coaching staffs are, I knew that this was a secret that was kept secret. Everyone on that staff had to have known, the ones that had been around a long time. You think that a 13-year assistant ... hasn't told someone else? His wife? His father? People knew. The community knew.[35]

On November 10, hours after Paterno and Spanier had been fired, Pittsburgh sports talk host Mark Madden, who had written a column in the Beaver County Times on April 3 that had suggested the possibility of a Penn State cover-up,[36] appeared on the Boston sports talk show Dennis and Callahan.

Impact

Rodney Erickson, appointed Interim President by Penn State's Board of Trustees on November 9.

Penn State officially banned Sandusky from campus on November 6, 2011.[37] Later that day, Tim Curley was placed on administrative leave, and Gary Schultz resigned to go back into retirement.[38]

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.[39] 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."[40]

The following day, the Associated Press reported that Paterno had decided to retire at the end of the 2011 football season, saying that he didn't want to be a distraction.[41] In a statement announcing his retirement, Paterno said: "It is one of the great sorrows of my life. With the benefit of hindsight, I wish I had done more."[42]

After the charges came to light, Spanier issued a statement in which he said Curley and Schultz had his unconditional support, and saying they "operate at the highest levels of honesty."[43] Spanier was criticized for expressing support for Curley and Schultz, and failing to express any concern for Sandusky's alleged victims.[2]

On November 9, The Express-Times of Easton, Pennsylvania, reported that the Board of Trustees had given Spanier an ultimatum—resign before that night's meeting or be fired.[44][45] Later that day, the board voted to fire Spanier, effective immediately. Provost Rodney Erickson was named interim president. It also ordered Paterno to leave immediately; defensive coordinator Tom Bradley was named interim coach for the remainder of the season.[46][47][48]

Reactions also included the removal of Sandusky's image from a mural near the college,[49] and the renaming of an ice-cream flavor which had been created in his honor.[50][51]

Several additional developments occurred on Friday, November 11, including the following:

  • Officials in San Antonio, Texas announced that they are investigating whether Sandusky molested one of the victims at the 1999 Alamo Bowl.[52]
  • Penn State officials announced that McQueary was being placed on indefinite paid administrative leave.[53]
  • Penn State's Aa1 revenue-bond rating was "placed on review for possible downgrade" by Moody's Investors Service due to the potential impact of the sex abuse scandal.[54]

Student Response

A few Penn State students, angered over Spanier's role in the 2002 incident as well as his statement of support for Curley and Schultz, created a Facebook page, "Fire Graham Spanier", to call on Penn State's Board of Trustees to fire Spanier.[55] An online petition at change.org calling for Spanier's ouster garnered over 1,700 signatures in four days.[56] Following Paterno's ouster, rioting occurred near the Penn State campus in reaction. Approximately 10,000 students and others gathered to support Paterno, with some tipping over a WTAJ news truck.[57] Police used tear gas in response. No major injuries were reported.[58]

On November 10, a group of Penn State alumni set up and announced ProudPSUforRAINN[59], a fundraiser for the anti-sexual violence network RAINN with a goal of $500,000, saying

After having so closely identified with all things Penn State over the past 15 years, the recent events have shaken our beliefs – and those of other alumni – to the core. Simply put, Penn State is way bigger than the alleged actions of a few people. To honor the victims, our goal is to raise over $500,000 – one dollar for each of Penn State’s 557,000 alumni. [60][59] [61]

As of 2 p.m. the next day, they had raised over $113,000 dollars.[60]

On November 11, students also planned a candlelight vigil on the lawn of Old Main with nearly 9000 planning on attending.[62] [61]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Two Top Officials Step Down Amid Penn State Scandal". Associated Press. Retrieved November 9, 2011.
  2. ^ a b c d Wetzel, Dan (November 5, 2011). "Penn State's insufficient action amid child sex allegations stunning". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved November 6, 2011.
  3. ^ "Scout.com: Sandusky Second to None". Pennstate.scout.com. March 27, 2007. Retrieved November 5, 2011.
  4. ^ Armas, Genaro C.; Scolford, Mark (November 6, 2011). "Jerry Sandusky Charged With Sexual Abuse: Did Penn State Officials Tim Curley, Gary Schultz It Cover Up?". The Huffington Post. Retrieved November 6, 2011.
  5. ^ Fontaine, Tom (November 6, 2011). "Three charged in Penn State sex crime case". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved November 6, 2011.
  6. ^ Ganim, Sara (November 4, 2011). "Jerry Sandusky, a Penn State University football legend and founder of The Second Mile, faces charges of sex crimes". The Patriot-News. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Retrieved November 5, 2011.
  7. ^ a b "Report of Thirty Third Statewide Investigating Grand Jury". Pennsylvania Attorney General. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 10, 2011.
  8. ^ "Former Coach at Penn State Is Charged With Abuse". The New York Times. 5November 5, 2011. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  9. ^ Juliano, Joe (November 6, 2011). "Two Penn State officials charged in connection with sex-abuse investigation". The Philadelphia Inquirer.
  10. ^ Ganim, Sara (November 7, 2011). "Mothers of two of Jerry Sandusky's alleged victims lash out at Penn State officials' handling of scandal". The Patriot-News. Retrieved November 9, 2011.
  11. ^ Associated Press (November 5, 2011). "Penn State ex-coach charged with abuse, AD with perjury". USA Today. Retrieved November 5, 2011.
  12. ^ "Penn State AD charged with perjury, failure to report in Sandusky sex case (MSNBC)". NBC Sports. Retrieved November 5, 2011.
  13. ^ Scolforo, Mark. "Penn St Ex-Coach, Others Charged in Child Sex Case (ABC News)". Abcnews.go.com. Retrieved November 5, 2011.
  14. ^ a b "Sandusky, Penn State case timeline". ESPN.com. November 9, 2011. Retrieved November 9, 2011.
  15. ^ "Report" (PDF). Thirty-Third Statewide Investigating Grand Jury. November 2011. p. 6.
  16. ^ Ganim, Sara (November 6, 2011). "Report: Former coach Jerry Sandusky used charity to molest kids". The Patriot-News. Retrieved November 6, 2011.
  17. ^ http://www.attorneygeneral.gov/uploadedFiles/Press/Sandusky-Grand-Jury-Presentment.pdf
  18. ^ http://www.attorneygeneral.gov/uploadedFiles/Press/Sandusky-Grand-Jury-Presentment.pdf
  19. ^ http://www.attorneygeneral.gov/uploadedFiles/Press/Sandusky-Grand-Jury-Presentment.pdf
  20. ^ http://www.attorneygeneral.gov/uploadedFiles/Press/Sandusky-Grand-Jury-Presentment.pdf
  21. ^ http://www.attorneygeneral.gov/uploadedFiles/Press/Sandusky-Grand-Jury-Presentment.pdf
  22. ^ http://www.attorneygeneral.gov/uploadedFiles/Press/Sandusky-Grand-Jury-Presentment.pdf
  23. ^ "Penn State sex scandal: Jerry Sandusky ran boys camps for years". Los Angeles Times. November 8, 2011.
  24. ^ Ganim, Sara (November 5, 2011). "Former Penn State coaching legend Jerry Sandusky could face life in prison if convicted on charges of sex abuse against boys". The Patriot-News. Retrieved November 5, 2011.
  25. ^ "Sandusky case: Officials seek alleged victims". CBS News.
  26. ^ O’Keefe, Michael (November 6, 2011). "Former Penn State coach Jerry Sandusky arrested in child sex case; AD Tim Curley charged with perjury". New York Daily News. Retrieved November 6, 2011.
  27. ^ "Police official: Paterno didn't do enough to stop abuse". CBSSports.com. November 7, 2011. Retrieved November 7, 2011.
  28. ^ Wise, Mike (November 5, 2011). "If Jerry Sandusky allegations are true, Penn State and Joe Paterno deserve part of the blame". The Washington Post. Washington, DC. Retrieved November 6, 2011.
  29. ^ Hayes, Matt (November 7, 2011). "University culture protected Paterno, buried Penn State deeper in scandal". Sporting News. Retrieved November 7, 2011.
  30. ^ Mike'd Up, WFAN, November 9, 2011.
  31. ^ Countdown with Keith Olbermann, Current TV, November 9, 2011.
  32. ^ Patriot-News Editorial Board (November 8, 2011). "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". The Patriot-News. Retrieved November 8, 2011.
  33. ^ "Paterno, McQueary need to do right thing". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. November 8, 2011.
  34. ^ Dowd, Maureen (November 9, 2011). "Personal Foul at Penn State". The New York Times. Retrieved November 9, 2011.
  35. ^ Carlson, Jenni (2011-11-10). "Penn State tragedy: Barry Switzer says Joe Paterno had to go". The Daily Oklahoman. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
  36. ^ Madden, Mark (April 3, 2011). "Madden: Sandusky a state secret". Beaver County Times. Retrieved November 10, 2011.
  37. ^ "Penn State to pay AD's legal costs". ESPN. November 6, 2011.
  38. ^ "Paterno to retire after season amid scandal". November 6, 2011. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |publsher= ignored (|publisher= suggested) (help)
  39. ^ "Report: Penn St. planning Paterno's exit". Fox Sports. November 8, 2011.
  40. ^ "Penn State Said to Be Planning Paterno Exit Amid Scandal". The New York Times. November 8, 2011.
  41. ^ "AP Source: Paterno to retire at end of season". Associated Press. November 9, 2011.
  42. ^ "Paterno to retire at end of football season". CBS News. November 9, 2011.
  43. ^ "Spanier: Curley, Schultz 'Operate at the Highest Levels of Honesty'". StateCollege.com. State College, PA. November 5, 2011.
  44. ^ "Penn State President Graham Spanier will quit or be fired today in wake of Sandusky charges". The Express-Times. November 9, 2011. Retrieved November 9, 2011.
  45. ^ Simpson, Ian (November 9, 2011). "UPDATE 3-Paterno retires, Penn State president may be next". Reuters. Retrieved November 9, 2011.
  46. ^ "Penn State fires Joe Paterno as head coach amid sex-abuse scandal". The Star-Ledger. November 9, 2011.
  47. ^ "Board of Trustees announces leadership changes at Penn State". Penn State Live. The Pennsylvania State University. November 9, 2011.
  48. ^ "Trustees: Penn State president removed, Paterno out immediately". CNN. November 10, 2011.
  49. ^ Armas, Genaro C. (10 November 2011). "Paterno, Penn State president fired amid sex-abuse scandal". Pioneer Press. Retrieved 10 November 2011.
  50. ^ "Sandusky Ice Cream Yanked on Website". PennLive.com. 9 November 2011. Retrieved 10 November 2011. ].
  51. ^ Template:Wayback
  52. ^ Penn State Sex Abuse Scandal Spreads to Texas for Alleged Alamo Bowl Tryst. ABC News, 2011-11-11.
  53. ^ Penn State coach McQueary on 'indefinite' paid leave (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, November 11, 2011)
  54. ^ Brian Chappatta and Greg Chang (November 11, 2011). "Pennsylvania State May Be Downgraded by Moody's in Wake of Abuse Scandal". Bloomberg.
  55. ^ Tully, Jessica (November 6, 2011). "Penn State students react to grand jury investigation, charges against former coach Sandusky, AD Curley, VP for Finance and Business Schultz". The Daily Collegian. University Park, PA. Retrieved November 6, 2011.
  56. ^ Fontaine, Tom (November 6, 2011). "Online petition seeks ouster of Penn State president Spanier". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Pittsburgh. Retrieved November 6, 2011.
  57. ^ Sanserino, Michael (November 10, 2011). "Riots break out as thousands take to State College streets". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  58. ^ "Penn State scandal: Scene turns ugly as students react to Joe Paterno's firing". The Star-Ledger. November 10, 2011.
  59. ^ a b James, Susan Donaldson. "Penn State Alums Raise Funds for Victims, Bring Back Pride". Retrieved 11 November 2011.
  60. ^ a b "ProudPSUforRAINN". RAINNaccessdate=11 November 2011.
  61. ^ a b Johnson, Jenna. "Penn State students plan candlelight vigil, raise money for victims". Washington Post. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
  62. ^ "Candle Light Vigil for Abused Victims". Retrieved 11 November 2011.
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