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Penn State Officials Held for Trial In Child Sex Abuse Case

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Two Penn State officials charged with lying to a grand jury in the university’s child sex-abuse scandal have been held for trial after a preliminary hearing in Harrisburg Friday.

Lawyers for Tim Curley and Gary Schultz say their clients will be exonerated at trial.

Schultz’s attorney questioned the actions of assistant coach Mike McQueary in not reporting to police what he saw in a locker room shower in 2002. McQueary had earlier told the judge he saw former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky in a shower naked, hugging a young boy from behind. He said he believed what he saw was intercourse between Sandusky and the boy.

Curley’s attorney called the charge of perjury an unusual type of charge in Pennsylvania.

Curley has stepped aside from his post as athletic director to fight the allegations. Schultz has returned to retirement.

Preliminary Hearing Day for Jerry Sandusky

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    As the sun rose over the small town of Bellefonte this morning, all eyes (and cameras) were focused on the Centre County Courthouse. News helicopters patrolled the pre-dawn skies and the courthouse, decorated for the holidays, was fully lit. This is where Jerry Sandusky will today face some of his accusers for the first time since his arrest on child sex charges last month.

    Hundreds of journalists are present to cover what is normally a mundane court procedure. In many cases, in fact, preliminary hearings are waived altogether. In addition to the national and local press, some members of the public will be present in the courtroom today. More than 1300 people applied for a precious few open seats set aside for the public. Some of those lottery winners were at the courthouse before dawn.

    Sandusky faces more than 50 counts of child sexual abuse against at least 10 teen-aged boys over a decade and a half. The ensuing scandal led to the firing of legendary Head Coach Joe Paterno and Penn State University President Graham Spanier. Sandusky, the former revered Penn State defensive coach, maintains his innocence. The purpose of today’s hearing is for a judge to determine if there is enough evidence for the case against Sandusky to go to trial.

 

Poll Looks at Public Opinion Over Penn State Scandal

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A new poll samples public opinion over the firing of Penn State football coach Joe Paterno, and other aspects of the child sex abuse scandal surrounding former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky.   

Pennsylvania voters narrowly support the decision to fire Paterno by 52 to 43 percent.  But the Quinnipiac University poll found support stronger for the dismissal of University President Graham Spanier, at 74%. 

Assistant poll director Tim Malloy says 65% of those surveyed think football has too much influence at Penn State, but 67% say it would be a bad idea to turn down a bowl bid for this year’s football team. He says on the one hand, they’re saying maybe we want to ratchet down the football program at the school, but in the near term, don’t hurt the players.

Malloy says voters were split over Governor Corbett’s handling of the child sex abuse case, but they give the Governor an overall approval rating of 47 to 34 percent.  He says that rating is actually up slightly since the scandal broke, so Corbett did not get hurt by this. He says Governor Corbett is polling better than some other Republican governors.

While Quinnipiac University usually polls on political issues, Malloy says this was such a big story, it’s a state university, the Governor was aware of it when he was Attorney General and Joe Paterno  is probably the best known figure in the state.  He says people in Pennsylvania wanted to talk about this.

Jerry Sandusky Arrested on New Charges

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New charges have been filed against former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky.

The latest charges follow grand jury testimony from two additional young men who were allegedly targeted by Sandusky when they were children. The Attorney General’s office says victim 9 first encountered Sandusky while participating in a summer camp organized by The Second Mile around 2004 when he was 11 or 12 years old.  Officials say Victim 10 was referred to The Second Mile in 1997 when he was 10 and met Sandusky at a summer camp.

Sandusky was arrested Wednesday on a dozen new charges, including indecent assault and involuntary deviate sexual intercourse. He was taken to Centre County Jail after being unable to immediately post $250 thousand dollars bail. Terms of his bail also include electronic monitoring and house arrest.

In a news release, the Attorney General and State Police Commissioner emphasized that this remains an active and ongoing investigation.

Sandusky had already faced 40 counts of child sexual abuse involving eight boys identified during a lengthy grand jury investigation.  The new charges are based on evidence and testimony that was received after his initial arrest on November 5th.

The alleged incidents in the new charges occurred at a hotel swimming pool in the State College area, at Sandusky’s home, in a swimming pool on the Penn State campus and in a car.

PSU Partners with PCAR, More Scrutiny

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Penn State will tap its share of this year’s Big Ten bowl revenues to fund a new partnership with the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape.  PSU has committed $1.5-million dollars for the partnership, which will focus on everything from professional development for employees to developing research on child sexual abuse.  “Our own experience shows that child sexual abuse greatly impacts individuals and entire communities,” university president Rodney Erickson said in a statement.  “It is now our responsibility to assist in raising awareness and in helping fight this insidious and often secret crime.” 

PCAR reached out to Penn State almost immediately after the news of the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal broke.  PCAR CEO Delilah Rumburg is pleased with the new partnership.  “It shows strength to take a tragic situation and turn it into an opportunity to grow and learn,” she says. 

News of the new partnership comes amid continued scrutiny of Penn State.  Auditor General Jack Wagner, Wednesday, said he wants to ensure that taxpayer dollars aren’t used in the defense of any individuals charged in the sex abuse scandal:WAGNER4

 

Legislative Panel May Investigate Child Abuse Laws

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In the wake of the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal at Penn State, many lawmakers are calling for revisions to the state’s child abuse statutes.  There was talk on the House floor Thursday night of a forthcoming joint resolution that would create a bipartisan, bicameral panel to investigate which laws need strengthened and how.

“I’ve had conversations with the Governor, members of his administration, House leaders and Senate Democratic leaders about the bipartisan, bicameral approach to addressing the issues raised by the Penn State child abuse indictments,” Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi said in a statement.  “I am committed to a thoughtful process that produces stronger protections for children across the state.”    

House Democratic Leader Frank Dermody (D-Allegheny) released the following statement: “This commission will only succeed if it is truly independent and impartial.  In addition to the Judiciary Committee chairmen, it should include the chairs of the Children and Youth Committee.  The non-legislative members must not be involved in conducting the current criminal investigation, nor should the commission include anyone who was part of that investigation at any earlier point.  The commission needs the ability to subpoena witnesses so that it is empowered to find the truth.”

Earlier in the week, Governor Tom Corbett encouraged a “dispassionate” legislative response.  “I think we now have time to take a good look at this to take our time and do it right,” Corbett told a gaggle of reporters. 

Penn State and Nebraska players gathered in prayer prior to last Saturday's football game.

Support Grows for Blue Out for Penn State-Nebraska Game, Other Efforts to Raise Money to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse

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If there has been a positive to the scandal at Penn State, it has put a spotlight on child sexual abuse.  Many Nittany Lion faithful are going beyond lip service.

A blue ribbon is a symbol against child abuse, and the idea of a blue out for the football game against Nebraska game on Saturday started gaining support as the Sandusky scandal grew. It is the last home game of the season.

A State College store is selling t-shirts with the symbol, with proceeds going to Prevent Child Abuse PA.  The manager of   McLanahan’s says the shirts have been selling quickly.  She adds that people are thanking them in store and on line, for stepping up.    

The store is taking orders through its web site and shipping until they cease production of the shirts.

At the same time,   a grassroots network of Penn State alumni, parents, students and fans has launched an effort to raise money for the Rape Abuse and Incest National Network, RAINN.  According to the network’s website, the effort has already raised over 100 thousand dollars.  

Child Sex Abuse Scandal Sparks Investigation of Penn State University

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Problems are compounding for officials at Penn State amid the child sexual abuse scandal involving a former assistant football coach.   The U. S. Department of Education will look at whether Penn State University failed to comply with the Clery Act in regard to allegations of sex offenses on campus involving former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky. 

Under the act, a college or university is required to disclose the number of criminal offenses on campus that are reported each year. It also requires a school to issue a timely warning if a reported crime represents a threat to the campus community. 

The investigation will be conducted by the Office of Federal Student Aid and as it proceeds, the Office of Civil Rights will assess whether further investigation or enforcement action is warranted.