Penn State AD and Sandusky Charged

[RingoOSU]

Posnanski's upcoming book just quadrupled sales

At this point, I'd respect Posnanski more if he just decided not to write the book. How could he write it without focusing on this scandal? And if he focuses on the scandal, then wouldn't it just be the typical dirt digging pulp that everything else is these days?

 

[In Vino Vinatieri]

"If true, the nature and amount of charges made are very shocking to me and all Penn Staters. While I did what I was supposed to with the one charge brought to my attention, like anyone else involved I can't help but be deeply saddened these matters are alleged to have occurred.

"Sue and I have devoted our lives to helping young people reach their potential. The fact that someone we thought we knew might have harmed young people to this extent is deeply troubling. If this is true we were all fooled, along with scores of professionals trained in such things, and we grieve for the victims and their families. They are in our prayers.

"As my grand jury testimony stated, I was informed in 2002 by an assistant coach that he had witnessed an incident in the shower of our locker room facility. It was obvious that the witness was distraught over what he saw, but he at no time related to me the very specific actions contained in the Grand Jury report. Regardless, it was clear that the witness saw something inappropriate involving Mr. Sandusky. As Coach Sandusky was retired from our coaching staff at that time, I referred the matter to university administrators.

"I understand that people are upset and angry, but let's be fair and let the legal process unfold. In the meantime I would ask all Penn Staters to continue to trust in what that name represents, continue to pursue their lives every day with high ideals and not let these events shake their beliefs nor who they are."

This to me is pretty damning. As someone who has an inattentive and recent following of college football, I was shocked that this could happen at an institution like Penn State. At first I wondered how sexual abuse by a coach could happen at a university where students tend to be older, then I wondered how an allegation involving a ten year old could be true (what's a ten year old doing in a university locker room?), then I wondered how Paterno or other administrators could be involved or involved in a cover-up (are they really that stupid?). Basically, I was incredulous, in disbelief. Are they really that dumb?

Turns out it looks like they are. Paterno says both that the witness was "obvious[ly] distraught" over the incident, but "at no time related the very specific actions". What? So an assistant coach comes to you, shaken or crying and visibly upset, about another PSU official in a shower with a 10 year old, and you don't want to find out what exactly happened that was so distressing? You don't even ask him what he saw, or tried to find out if what he was saying was credible or incredibly exaggerated? I mean, at the very least, a vague recollection of what he saw would have to include Sandusky and the child in the showers together with either of them naked or partially naked. Why in hell is that happening at a university? And you don't even question it?

This is like corporate-level obfuscation, with Paterno agreeing to put up his blinders at the mention of the name Sandusky and agreeing to tell it to the AD, the AD helping to cover it up and pass the blame, and the next person doing the same thing so that each of them would have so few responsibility over it that they might evade any legal consequences. Sorry, but a kid was getting raped in the showers, and he pretended not to hear about it so that he could keep a good football coach around, or to avoid a few years of sanctions or whatever they feared. That's not passing the blame at all, it's just sharing it, and they're all guilty. At least the people in the Catholic church can lie to themselves and pretend they're doing it for the greater good of God's work or some bullshit, but these guys considered a few psychologically destroyed young boys as part of the necessary work of keeping an institution of college football in business -- it's not even credible on its face. If any of them had asked of themselves, even once, "what am I doing?", or seen their actions written down or relayed back to them by an observer, this probably would not have happened or continued.

I can deal with a little corruption having to do with scholarships and money being paid to players, since the players are getting a raw end of the deal to begin with, but this is just sickening. What the hell were they thinking? I never want to hear another former player or sportscaster talking about how Joe Pa taught boys how to be men even once more in my life.

 

[Dehere]

Paterno's statement is pretty weak, IMO. He uses the phrase "if true," "alleged" or some variation in nearly every sentence. While yes, they haven't been proven in a court of law yet, with the wealth of evidence I don't think there's anyone who thinks Sandusky is completely innocent and it sounds like Paterno's still defending him. Then he hides under "what Penn State represents" as if that has any weight anymore.

If he really doesn't think Sandusky did anything wrong, or truly wants to let the courts decide (when you know someone personally I guess denial can be strong) he should keep quiet until the trial. If he does believe the evidence, I'd have much more respect if his statement was more strongly worded. His statement reads like someone burying his head in the sand or protecting his own butt.

It reads like the statement of someone who's been told he's at great risk of being a defendant in a civil suit sometime in the future.

I'm in no way defending Paterno's failure to act, but the statement itself is exactly what we should expect from someone in this situation.

 

[Dehere]

At this point, I'd respect Posnanski more if he just decided not to write the book. How could he write it without focusing on this scandal? And if he focuses on the scandal, then wouldn't it just be the typical dirt digging pulp that everything else is these days?

That was my first thought too, that he should just walk away from the project. Thinking about it a little more I think he may be the only person out there who's got the sports knowledge, the even-handed temperament, and the sense of empathy to tell this story. Who else but Poz would you trust with this story? I hope he writes it.

 

[Doug Beerabelli]

Big East Commissioner's office extending invitation to PSU to join conference in 5.....4.......3......

 

[Jnai]

Whole thing reminds me of the Catholic Church's response to the same sort of thing.

Guy sees Deacon with altar boy, doesn't want to cause huge legal problems for Church he has spent his entire life attending, tells Priest.
Priest tells Bishop.
Bishop tells Cardinal.
Cardinal decides it's better for everyone if the guy has confession rather than 20 to life.

Joe Pa's "I told the person I was supposed to tell" is not good enough. The people you are supposed to tell are the cops.

[By the way, not a dig against the Church. It's just the same story.]

 

[MN Dirt Dog]

Of all those guilty of something in this, Joe Pa is among the least guilty (assuming facts that are true, which is something we can't say with certainty yet).

According to Pennsylvania laws on mandated child abuse reporters, he is NOT legally obligated to report to the police (mandated reporters in public institutions are either licensed medical professionals eg. MD's, RN's OR person in charge or the "designated agent"). He is obligated to forward it to that person in charge if he comes across a situation where he believes abuse may have occurred. He did report to his immediate supervisor, which absolves him, and which is why you don't see Paterno's name on the indictment.

JoePa didn't do anything wrong. However, there's very little he did right. He's 100% guilty of terrible judgement. Hearing from a grad assistant that a young child is being anally raped in your locked room by a former coach still on your staff and still holding office in an emeritus role....and you don't see the police getting involved and choose to do nothing further?

It's the whole "bystander effect' issue; I'll stick my head out just enough and hope someone else takes care of it. If you're the public face of an institution like Penn State football (or college football for that matter, what with his all-time win total) and much of your existence has been focused on developing young men and making them better people through athletics, then you should feel compelled to do more than the bare minimum in this case.

There were 8 victims listed in the report....in what I know about the dynamics of sex offenders, Sandusky likely had more victims and more offenses that will go unreported.

Forget improper contributions, tattoos, and boosters. This blows any previous NCAA scandal out of the water (aside perhaps the Baylor scandal).

I'm the parent of an 16-year old football player. I don't even consider looking in Penn St's direction. They'll have to do an all-out housecleaning. Recruiting will suffer, of course. Paterno finishes out the season and has to retire.

Basically, Penn State football as we know it is dead.

 

[pedros hairstylist]

This whole thing is worse than any scandal I can think of in college sports. Another reason why the whole business of NCAA football and basketball needs to be reformed dramatically.

 

[dirtynine]

I'm sure a complete and deserved housecleaning will take place, but I'm not sure the actual Penn State football product will suffer that much.

 

[JBill]

So this monster was allowed on campus after the shower incident? How does Paterno not at the very least put a stop to that? What a horrendous story.

 

[canderson]

I'm sure a complete and deserved housecleaning will take place, but I'm not sure the actual Penn State football product will suffer that much.

How can a parent knowingly let their child go live and breathe in a place where an orchestrated attempt to cover up child molestation occurred for a decade?

 

[Manny ActaFool]

So I just read most of the indictment, and it's much more graphic and disgusting then I thought it could be. The critical thinker in me would most often assume innocence until proven otherwise, but I have no reservations about labeling Sandusky as an A-1 pedo. Complete degenerate to the human species. If we can think of him as human.

With so much evidence and impending doom for Sandusky, I have to wonder what the Attorney General is going to try to get out of him re: other parties. Are all the others named in the indictment (particulary JoePa) shitting themselves right now because Sandusky could sing for a lighter sentence? What weight would it carry if Sandusky says JoePa knew more than just the shower incident? For anyone following the situation more closely (and PA law), is pleading even a remote possibility here?

Just as I type this, Dan Wetzel tweets that sources say Sandusky worked out in the PSU weight room multiple times last week. Jesus Christ, everyone needs to resign right now...

 

[JBill]

Just as I type this, Dan Wetzel tweets that sources say Sandusky worked out in the PSU weight room multiple times last week. Jesus Christ, everyone needs to resign right now...

Jesus, what the hell. Everyone looks awful.

 

[doldmoose34]

Whole thing reminds me of the Catholic Church's response to the same sort of thing.

Guy sees Deacon with altar boy, doesn't want to cause huge legal problems for Church he has spent his entire life attending, tells Priest.
Priest tells Bishop.
Bishop tells Cardinal.
Cardinal decides it's better for everyone if the guy has confession rather than 20 to life.

Joe Pa's "I told the person I was supposed to tell" is not good enough. The people you are supposed to tell are the cops.

[By the way, not a dig against the Church. It's just the same story.]

I was thinking the same thing, with Bernie Law as the President of PSU right down to not offering to step down

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ here come the suits

 

[berniecarbo1]

Joe Pa needs to anounce his retirement now. No ifs, ands or buts about it. He knew about this and told someone at the school, yet allowed Sandusky access to the facilities up until last week?? I know Sandusky's foundation was not there but Sandusky was. What a horrible story and a horrible ending to Joe Pa's career. But Joe has to go.. He can't stay one more day. The entire football staff has to go. And whatever happens, happens. This is one area that there are no sacred cows, as the Church scandal proved to everyone.

 

[mascho]

As @TyDuffy just indicated on Twitter, hard not to read this article on Sandusky's retirement now and keep lunch down.

Still, Paterno is the boss—Sandusky doesn't expect Paterno to solicit his opinion about who should follow him as coordinator—and no doubt part of Sandusky's reason for retiring is that he's tired of being second banana. He's not even coy about his desire still to run a program, any program, perhaps a Division III team or, don't laugh, a midget league basketball team. Sandusky's parents, Art and Evie, ran a recreation center in Washington, Pa., and at heart, E.J. says, Sandusky is "a frustrated playground director." E.J. remembers the kickball games his father organized in the backyard. "Dad would get every single kid involved," says E.J. "We had the largest kickball games in the United States, kickball games with 40 kids."

Says Millen, "A lot of people were surprised when Jerry said he was retiring. Me? I was surprised he stayed that long. Jerry has so many passions and so many gifts besides coaching football—a gift for teaching, a gift for helping, a gift for guiding kids. This is a man with a lot to do."

 

[8slim]

Through it's actions Penn State basically told Sandusky that it's OK to rape kids, just don't do it on campus.

Sickening.

 

[JBill]

Posnanski's upcoming book just quadrupled sales

Will be interesting to read now, for sure. He had a blog post up about it:

Darkness

Joe Paterno has also been ripped in various places for not doing enough, for not reporting the incident to the police himself, for not stopping a longtime coach who, if the charges are true, is a monster. I have heard from many, many people who have strong opinions about Paterno and have reached conclusions, and I understand.

But this is where my thoughts trail off… I’m writing a book about Joe Paterno. I need time. This story, for me at least, needs time. This thing is so vile, so grotesque, that it is human nature to want everyone to pay. Innocent children were hurt, scarred, and as a parent this is something so horrible that I cannot even think of a penalty harsh enough. There is no way to see this thing clearly now, not for me, anyway.

Love Pos, but kind of wish he had held off writing anything about it for a few days.

 

[PC Drunken Friar]

I don't see how this book can be written...wouldn't Sandusky be a major player in the book? Why would Paterno tell Poz anything...rendering this HUGE part of Paterno's legacy out of it.

 

[Leather]

Will be interesting to read now, for sure. He had a blog post up about it:

Darkness



Love Pos, but kind of wish he had held off writing anything about it for a few days.

Isn't his entire point that he won't be writing anything about it until more information came to light?

I don't see how this book can be written...wouldn't Sandusky be a major player in the book? Why would Paterno tell Poz anything...rendering this HUGE part of Paterno's legacy out of it.

I don't know if he will write the book at all. He might not have the stomach for it. But should Pos decide to switch tracks right now and write a book about this scandal, he's exactly in the right place at the right time. He's had access to Paterno for the past few months. He's already on campus. He can interview/observe everything on a real-time basis.

If he chooses to write that book, he'd probably end up writing one of the best-selling books related to sports ever written. He would cement his legacy as one of the greatest sports journalists ever.

Honestly, part of me feels like he's almost obligated to write that book, because it's a story that should be told, and I don't trust anyone else to do it as impartially or as thoroughly as it would need to be done.

 

[Tartan]

As @TyDuffy just indicated on Twitter, hard not to read this article on Sandusky's retirement now and keep lunch down.

This quote chilled my spine. It's horrifying in context.

Who knows how countless others would've ended up had Sandusky's organization not gotten involved. Partly because of his Second Mile responsibilities, Sandusky turned down a prime head coaching opportunity, at Maryland in 1991, and his decision to retire at the end of this season (his last game will be the Dec. 28 Alamo Bowl against Texas A&M) was partly based on his wanting to get more involved in fund-raising and program development for the organization. "Jerry has always been our heart and soul," says Hank Lesch, Second Mile's vice president of development.


If Sandusky did not have such a human side, there would be a temptation around Happy Valley to canonize him: Saint Sandusky, leader of linebackers, molder of men.

Good lord. What an utterly nightmarish story.

 

[JBill]

Isn't his entire point that he won't be writing anything about it until more information came to light?

By saying "Paterno has been ripped in various places" and of people "reaching conclusions", I took that to mean he thought it's ill advised to rush to judgment on Paterno until we know more. Personally, I think we know enough now.

 

[Leather]

By saying "Paterno has been ripped in various places" and of people "reaching conclusions", I took that to mean he thought it's ill advised to rush to judgment on Paterno until we know more. Personally, I think we know enough now.

I don't think so. I think he is just going to wait before making his own statement on the situation. I'm sure he has his own conclusions, he just doesn't see the point in airing them right now.

Honestly, he shouldn't. He'd blow his cover. It's entirely plausible that members of the AD are trying to use him for a mouthpiece, and he's collecting inside info that he can share in his book, or in a column.

If he comes out against Penn State right now, it's all over. He's much more useful as a neutral observer right now.

 

[JohntheBaptist]

Ugh. Him turning down all these really big appointments to work with kids obviously reads more like "huge red flag" now than "proof he's an awesome guy."

I'm just staggered that there are a handful of people that covered this up and it wasn't a rumor or anything vague--the guy was caught in flagrante delicto with a ten year old boy. Wouldn't the experience of actually seeing that take place steel you to going after this guy? And they didn't even give the kid a second thought as they covered it, that I just can't even wrap my head around.

 

[Average Reds]

Love Pos, but kind of wish he had held off writing anything about it for a few days.

Just out of curiosity, why?

Edit: Never mind - I see you answered already. Not sure I agree, in the sense that Joe Pos has every right to make his own judgments, but to each his own.

 

[Sprowl]

This quote chilled my spine. It's horrifying in context.

Good lord. What an utterly nightmarish story.

What a creepy hagiography -- it's enough to make you doubt every retirement tribute you ever heard.

From the Pennsylvania Attorney General's office (per NYT), Paterno "fulfilled his legal obligation" and won't be charged.

Joe Paterno, Penn State's legendary football coach, was not considered a target in the sexual abuse investigation that has resulted in the arrest of a former assistant coach and two prominent university officials. Kelly, who made a plea for other potential victims to come forward, summarized the prosecutors' case against Jerry Sandusky, the former Penn State defensive coordinator who faces a 40-count indictment for allegedly sexually abusing eight young boys. Through his lawyer, Sandusky has maintained his innocence.

She added that the roles played by Penn State administrators Tim Curley, the athletic director, and Gary Schultz, the vice president of business and finance who oversaw the university police, were "equally significant." Curley and Schultz, who both stepped down late Sunday, were arraigned Monday in Harrisburg, Pa., for charges that include providing false testimony to a grand jury and failing to report suspected child abuse.

Kelly chided them for not coming forth with the information about an alleged incident with Sandusky in the Penn State locker room showers in 2002. "Those officials and administrators to whom it was reported did not report that incident to law enforcement or to any child protective agency," she said. "Their inaction, likely, allowed a child predator to continue to victimize children for many, many years." Curley and Schultz have denied any wrongdoing.

Kelly said Paterno had cooperated with investigators and fulfilled his legal obligation to pass the information to a superior when, in 2002, a graduate assistant told him about an incident involving Sandusky that he had witnessed in the locker room showers.

According to prosecutors, the first serious chance Penn State had to halt the abuse came in 1998, when Sandusky was still an assistant for Paterno. A mother of an 11-year-old boy Sandusky had befriended at his charity reported to the Penn State campus police that her son had been touched and held by Sandusky in a shower inside the campus's football facility.

 

[JBill]

What a creepy hagiography -- it's enough to make you doubt every retirement tribute you ever heard.

From the Pennsylvania Attorney General's office (per NYT), Paterno "fulfilled his legal obligation" and won't be charged.

From that link:

According to prosecutors, the first serious chance Penn State had to halt the abuse came in 1998, when Sandusky was still an assistant for Paterno. A mother of an 11-year-old boy Sandusky had befriended at his charity reported to the Penn State campus police that her son had been touched and held by Sandusky in a shower inside the campus’s football facility.

Prosecutors said a “lengthy” investigation — one that grew to include allegations about a second young child being similarly touched by Sandusky in a shower — was carried out by the campus police. But the report offers few details about the nature of that investigation: who was interviewed, whether Paterno or other university officials were apprised of it.

When asked whether Paterno or the university president, Graham B. Spanier, was aware in 1998 of the investigation, Kelly said, “All I can say was that investigation was handled by Penn State University’s police department.”

Paterno’s son Scott said in a telephone interview Sunday that Paterno had not been aware of the 1998 investigation.

So there was some sort of investigation in 1998, Sandusky apologized to the child's mother...then the rape in 2002 which had an eyewitness...and still, nothing happens, and he's allowed on campus up until last week? None of this makes sense.

 

[8slim]

So there was some sort of investigation in 1998, Sandusky apologized to the child's mother...then the rape in 2002 which had an eyewitness...and still, nothing happens, and he's allowed on campus up until last week? None of this makes sense.

This is what happens when people care more about institutions than people.

"Penn State" had to be protected, for some bizarre reason. If 10 year olds had to get raped in the process, so be it.

 

[pedros hairstylist]

There's been a growing debate for some time about the legitimacy of campus police departments and about the lawfulness of internal disciplinary actions taken by many colleges and universities involving both students and faculty. Here's another egregious example where it certainly appears that efficacy for the school and the football program seems to have driven the situation. An absolute disgrace.

 

[drtooth]

Grand Jury Document

It is a large file (23 pages). Victim 4 has the most serious charges. Victim 2's handling by university officials is what got them in trouble. One thing that bothers me (among many) is that these incidences go back to the middle 1990's and the higher ups (including Spanier) completely either dropped the ball or attempted to cover it up. I have to wonder if this played a factor in Sandusky being told in 1999 by Paterno that he was not to become Penn State coach. The fact that this was allowed to go on for almost 15 years sickens me. Spanier and Paterno should resign immediately. My fear is that there may be many more victims out there and this is just the tip of the iceberg. As a parent of 2 children close to the ages of these poor kids, it just completely pisses me off. Sandusky deserves to rot in hell.

 

[Manny ActaFool]

From that link:

So there was some sort of investigation in 1998, Sandusky apologized to the child's mother...then the rape in 2002 which had an eyewitness...and still, nothing happens, and he's allowed on campus up until last week? None of this makes sense.

The 8 victims in the indictment tell a pretty consistent story of how Sandusky eased his way into their lives with the Second Mile program, had them sleep over at his house in his basement, bought their trust and silence with gifts and VIP game seats, and how their level of discomfort eventually led them to tell their parents they didn't want to hang out with him any more (understandably they didn't want to volunteer the true abhorrence taking place). One kid even hid in the closet when he came to visit. He was given free access to a junior high school (including unsupervised visits with the children). He would get very territorial and "needy" when kids started pulling away from him. There seems to be SOOO many situations where someone likely thought something wasn't quite right, but they didn't pursue or question further. This isn't just about one subhuman creaure and his loyalists turning the other cheek... this involves a whole town and its culture. Harsh to imply so many are to blame for allowing this to go on, but I imagine there's quite a few people in Happy Valley that should want to throw up on themselves right now.

I can't really recommend reading the indictment, but if you have a strong stomach then it serves as a cautionary tale that no matter how well respected a community leader or friend is, we always need to remain critical thinkers. Such a sad, sad story.

Edit: Thanks drtooth for posting it.

 

[In Vino Vinatieri]

This is what happens when people care more about institutions than people.

"Penn State" had to be protected, for some bizarre reason. If 10 year olds had to get raped in the process, so be it.

I can't really recommend reading the indictment, but if you have a strong stomach then it serves as a cautionary tale that no matter how well respected a community leader or friend is, we always need to remain critical thinkers. Such a sad, sad story.

Seriously. Some of these quotes coming out, and the guy's autiobiography's title, are so disturbing in hindsight. I'm sure there are lots of people in the area and affiliated with PSU who are horrified at what thought at the time but never acted on. One of the things I noticed in the Grand Jury document was a quote from Victim 1 about Sandusky would "crack his back". Is there some sort of underground pedophile training course that teaches this? I've heard of more than one athletic trainer who used to do that to youth athletes only for it to turn out to be a creepy way of intimate physical contact. Not sure I'd ever be able to see a coach or someone do that to a student without wondering if the guy is a creep.

The only thing they seem to have done about it was say "can you not rape kids in the showers, please, can you do it off-campus? You can still use the showers where you raped children in a non-rape capacity."

 

[Reverend]

Of all those guilty of something in this, Joe Pa is among the least guilty (assuming facts that are true, which is something we can't say with certainty yet).

According to Pennsylvania laws on mandated child abuse reporters, he is NOT legally obligated to report to the police (mandated reporters in public institutions are either licensed medical professionals eg. MD's, RN's OR person in charge or the "designated agent"). He is obligated to forward it to that person in charge if he comes across a situation where he believes abuse may have occurred. He did report to his immediate supervisor, which absolves him, and which is why you don't see Paterno's name on the indictment.

JoePa didn't do anything wrong. However, there's very little he did right. He's 100% guilty of terrible judgement. Hearing from a grad assistant that a young child is being anally raped in your locked room by a former coach still on your staff and still holding office in an emeritus role....and you don't see the police getting involved and choose to do nothing further?

It's the whole "bystander effect' issue; I'll stick my head out just enough and hope someone else takes care of it. If you're the public face of an institution like Penn State football (or college football for that matter, what with his all-time win total) and much of your existence has been focused on developing young men and making them better people through athletics, then you should feel compelled to do more than the bare minimum in this case.

I thought it worth pointing out that this is true, but a bit misleading in the larger scheme. Roughly speaking, the mandated child abuse reporters are those who are obligated to report evidence of what may child abuse. Witnessing the actual crime is very different. Of course, Joe Pa didn't, himself, witness the crime. The graduate assistant, however, did, and not reporting a felony is a crime in many jurisdictions.

But you are of course quite right on the epically bad, and really morally bankrupt, judgment. The graduate assistant should have reported it to the police. And Joe Pa should have encouraged him to do so if he had any suspicion a crime had taken place.

People are so weird about sexual assault. I mean, if you saw someone stab someone in the neck in your office, would you call the head of accounting?

There's been a growing debate for some time about the legitimacy of campus police departments and about the lawfulness of internal disciplinary actions taken by many colleges and universities involving both students and faculty. Here's another egregious example where it certainly appears that efficacy for the school and the football program seems to have driven the situation. An absolute disgrace.

They suck. For serious stuff, anyway.

They are good for creating a kind of buffer between the locals and kids being kids, which in most cases is probably a good thing. And internal disciplinary procedures are sort of by definition legal because it only covers what they do. But for "real crime"...

I would advise any college kids to report any incidents to the local police and not the campus police. Sexual assault seems to be the only serious crime in the country where's it's cool to handle it during amateur hour.

 

[JBill]

Also, an interesting twist is that the DA who investigated Sandusky and decided not to prosecute in 1998 himself disappeared byapparently committing suicide. Why is it interesting? Because he specifically destroyed the hard drive on his laptop. One can speculate as to what was on that hard drive.

Yeah, the more that comes out about this, the more it's stunning how many people/organizations seemed to know something was up, but no one did anything, including the prosecutor, the campus police, the university, the charity...pretty unbelievable.

More on the DA who decided not to press charges after the 1998 incidents here:

The state attorney general’s office says Gricar is the one who made the decision not to prosecute Jerry Sandusky in 1998, when two kids reported that Sandusky washed them during a shower.

Gricar was also the county’s top prosecutor when many of the other inappropriate acts were alleged to have happened. But before the allegations brought by a boy in Clinton County in 2009, the 23-page grand jury presentment says police were only ever notified once: in 1998.

According to those who were present during that investigation, Gricar seemed to be the one who made the decision not to prosecute.

We’ll probably never know why.

Gricar disappeared April 15, 2005, after taking a day off work to drive to Lewisburg. His disappearance has been the subject of a lot of speculation.

His laptop hard drive, which was found dumped in the Susquehanna River near where his car was parked in Lewisburg, was too badly damaged by water to be read.

Campus police investigation, nothing came of that:

A mother of an 11-year-old boy Sandusky had befriended at his charity reported to the campus police that her son had been touched and held by Sandusky in a shower at the football facility.

Prosecutors said an investigation — which grew to include allegations about a second young child being similarly touched by Sandusky in a shower — was carried out by the campus police.

Child protective services looked into the 1998 incidents:

Gerald Lauro investigated the 1998 allegation for child protective services. He said he did not find enough evidence of sexual assault to determine that the charge was founded. “I did my investigation and I based my determination on all the available evidence,” he said.

The charity was made aware of the 2002 incident (with university officials apparently lying about an internal investigation):

According to prosecutors, Sandusky preyed on young boys he met through the charity he founded years earlier, the Second Mile, which was designed to help disadvantaged boys. The charity released a statement Monday that said that Curley had told the organization’s chief executive in 2002 about the report from the graduate assistant, but that the matter had been reviewed internally and no wrongdoing was found. “At no time was The Second Mile made aware of the very serious allegations contained in the grand jury report,” the statement said.

NYT

So many people failed these kids it's heartbreaking. And the university continued to put them at risk:

Even after the 2002 incident that Paterno, Curley, Schultz and Spanier were told about, it appears the university continued to allow Sandusky on campus. And as recently as 2009, the university system was promoting the Sandusky Football Camp, a four-day, three-night clinic held at Penn State campuses in Erie and Harrisburg

 

[pedros hairstylist]

Do not read that grand jury thing if you have kids or have a soul. My God.

 

[J.McG]

Two snippets from the grand jury findings I found particularly disturbing:

The graduate assistant left immediately, distraught. The graduate assistant went to his office and called his father, reporting to him what he had seen. His father told the graduate assistant to leave the building and come to his home. The graduate assistant and his father decided that the graduate assistant had to report what he had seen to Coach Joe Paterno ("Paterno"), head football coach of Penn State. The next morning, a Saturday, the graduate assistant telephoned Paterno and went to Paterno's home, where he reported what he had seen.

I get the impression that the meeting between the grad assistant and his father after the rape was to decide whether or not to go to the police. Apparently the grad assistant chose job security over the welfare of a child. It was made clear in the grand jury findings that he was 100% sure he saw a 10 year old boy being sodomized by Sandusky. Honestly, how do you not immediately call 911 in that situation? It would appear that remaining silent even earned him a promotion from JoePa. Does anyone know if he is still on the staff? How do you continue to work for a program you know condones child rape? I hope that shower scene continues to haunt this guy for the rest of his life, he certainly deserves it for nearly a decade of willful ignorance.

I also got the feeling that the janitor who witnessed another rape received similar pressure to keep mum. This whole thing stinks to high hell like a cover-up.

Although Schultz oversaw the University Police as part of his position, he never reported the 2002 incident to the University Police or other police agency, never sought or reviewed a police report on the 1998 incident and never attempted to learn the identity of the child in the shower in 2002. No one from the University did so. Schultz did not ask the graduate assistant for specifics. No one ever did.

This is disgusting, and if it's anything like the Catholic priest scandal, the story is only going to get worse. I need to go take a shower after reading that grand jury document.

 

[Jnai]

People are so weird about sexual assault. I mean, if you saw someone stab someone in the neck in your office, would you call the head of accounting?

Imagine a grad student in your department sees a senior member of your faculty abusing a kid.

Is it so weird to imagine that before putting his own life and career on the line (because once you call the cops you can't un-call the cops), that he would talk to the head of his department first? That he would seek advice from someone he respects and trusts?

The problem with reporting sex abuse at any level is that it is VERY difficult to prove and that it sets off a chain of events that can ruin lives very quickly.

 

[DukeSox]

Does anyone know if he is still on the staff?

Yes, yes he is.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_McQueary

Mike McQueary is an assistant football coach at Pennsylvania State University.[1] McQueary, easily identified on the Penn State sideline by his bright red hair, is a record setting former quarterback for the Nittany Lions. He led Penn State for two seasons, 1996 and 1997, and set several records that still stand. In his position as recruiting coordinator McQueary has overseen the recruitment of several high profile recruits including Justin King, Derrick Williams and Andrew Quarless. Mike McQueary returned to Penn State in 2000 following attempts to catch on in the NFL with the Oakland Raiders[2] and in NFL Europa with the Scottish Claymores.[3]
McQueary is identified as a witness in the ongoing Jerry Sandusky child abuse scandal.[4]

 

[Captaincoop]

Every day that Joe Paterno continues to coach this team is a complete disgrace to the university. If I were a Penn State alum, I would be screaming bloody murder until he resigns.

How the fuck can he show up on Saturday and "coach" (as if he's done anything of the sort for the last 15 years) this team?

I keep thinking about Woody Hayes - he lost his cool as an old man and as a result his name literally never comes up anymore without mention of that incident. What Paterno did (or more accurately, didn't do) is about 1000x worse. His legacy is destroyed, and he deserves it 100%.

 

[Reverend]

Imagine a grad student in your department sees a senior member of your faculty abusing a kid.

Is it so weird to imagine that before putting his own life and career on the line (because once you call the cops you can't un-call the cops), that he would talk to the head of his department first? That he would seek advice from someone he respects and trusts?

The problem with reporting sex abuse at any level is that it is VERY difficult to prove and that it sets off a chain of events that can ruin lives very quickly.

It's very difficult to prove in some measure because of what you point out in the above part of your post.

In this specific case, for example, I'm pretty sure a rape kit would be dispositive insofar as the offender can't claim consensuality.

But more broadly, the issue of the difficulty of proving these cases is, I think--and in my experience--endogenous to the fact that people are so weird about them.

Do people worry about their career prospects when they see someone at work beat the shit out of someone?

And yes, I know there are a number of directions that can be taken--and I think I mean all of them.

What I'm saying is, the dude is 28 years old, a former division 1 football qb... if he saw a fist fight between a 60 year old man and a 10 year old boy, do you really not think he wouldn't try to break it up?

 

[Reverend]

As an addendum, if the GA had reported a felony assault to Paterno, what do you suppose would have happened?

What if there were multiple instances of felony assault that came in over the years, but somehow hadn't gotten into the media or reached the police?

I'm not saying I don't understand the behavior of an individual in thrall of their apprentice-master who can make or break their career. I'm saying the matter is dealt with poorly--and strangely--compared to other forms of assault that result in similar levels of damage to the victim, if such things can be quantified.

Basically, I'm saying that people are still oogy about sex crimes and can't deal. And I mean that as a people--I don't think, for example, Paterno or the AD would have been so blase about reports of torture, do you?

 

[J.McG]

Imagine a grad student in your department sees a senior member of your faculty abusing a kid.

Is it so weird to imagine that before putting his own life and career on the line (because once you call the cops you can't un-call the cops), that he would talk to the head of his department first? That he would seek advice from someone he respects and trusts?

The problem with reporting sex abuse at any level is that it is VERY difficult to prove and that it sets off a chain of events that can ruin lives very quickly.

I agree that there's a grey-area in many sexual abuse/harassment cases. But we're talking about a guy who saw a 10 year old kid getting butt-raped by a 60 year old man in front of his own eyes. Personally, I wouldn't need to seek advice from my boss on how to best handle that situation. Not to mention the fact that weeks, months and years passed without anything being done and he still did not go to authorities. Who knows how many other rapes may have occurred because he didn't have the balls to speak out. Same goes for JoePa and anyone else who had knowledge of the incident, especially in context of Sandusky's past transgressions.

This whole perverted story is starting to sound like something out of 120 Days of Sodom.

 

[StuckOnYouk]

I saw Francesa's show today and he was nailing it. One of his best performances I've ever seen from him. Not only that but Kim Jones - a Penn State grad - was even better. Honestly she doesn an incredible job and she should be co-hosting Francesa's show.

But back to the matter at hand, if you take what they said as truth, Paterno is done. According to Jones (and Francesa separately) there is no way - NO WAY - that Paterno didn't know what was going on. At the very least, he most likely found out about the 98 incident and because of that gently pushed Sandusky off the coaching roster a year later. Then JoePa finds out about ANOTHER child in 2002...and all he does is pass it to the AD. Does no follow up whatsoever (at least that's what we hear now), and as Francesa kept saying, he never asked about the kid's status. The kid who gets anally raped. All JoePa did was pass it to the AD and he wants us to believe he pulled a Pontius Pilate and wiped his hands of the matter. Then in 2007 Sandusky is at a closed practice at Penn State WITH A KID. And they let him stay.

Bullshit. JoePa is so done. Every day more details are going to come out and it's going to be more and more national news as it does. JoePa's legacy is forever tainted as it should be for his complete and intentional lack of serious action.

 

[mikeford]

I wish I took PH's advice and not read that 23 page Grand Jury findings. I'm gonna be sick.

 

[JBill]

I saw Francesa's show today and he was nailing it. One of his best performances I've ever seen from him. Not only that but Kim Jones - a Penn State grad - was even better. Honestly she doesn an incredible job and she should be co-hosting Francesa's show.

Thanks for pointing this out, Kim used to be a beat reporter for Penn State too, interview up on the WFAN website too. She said Sandusky used to have children from the foundation around him all the time.

Paterno's weekly press conference is tomorrow, and the university sent out a press release saying they are only going to allow football related questions. Good luck with that..."Coach, how does covering up for a child molester affect your game planning ability?"

 

[StuckOnYouk]

Thanks for pointing this out, Kim used to be a beat reporter for Penn State too, interview up on the WFAN website too. She said Sandusky used to have children from the foundation around him all the time.

Paterno's weekly press conference is tomorrow, and the university sent out a press release saying they are only going to allow football related questions. Good luck with that..."Coach, how does covering up for a child molester affect your game planning ability?"

As you probably know if you listened to her today, she's going to be at the press conference. The way she sounded today there's no way in hell she's not asking tough questions.

 

[Gdiguy]

I saw Francesa's show today and he was nailing it. One of his best performances I've ever seen from him. Not only that but Kim Jones - a Penn State grad - was even better. Honestly she doesn an incredible job and she should be co-hosting Francesa's show.

But back to the matter at hand, if you take what they said as truth, Paterno is done. According to Jones (and Francesa separately) there is no way - NO WAY - that Paterno didn't know what was going on. At the very least, he most likely found out about the 98 incident and because of that gently pushed Sandusky off the coaching roster a year later. Then JoePa finds out about ANOTHER child in 2002...and all he does is pass it to the AD. Does no follow up whatsoever (at least that's what we hear now), and as Francesa kept saying, he never asked about the kid's status. The kid who gets anally raped. All JoePa did was pass it to the AD and he wants us to believe he pulled a Pontius Pilate and wiped his hands of the matter. Then in 2007 Sandusky is at a closed practice at Penn State WITH A KID. And they let him stay.

Bullshit. JoePa is so done. Every day more details are going to come out and it's going to be more and more national news as it does. JoePa's legacy is forever tainted as it should be for his complete and intentional lack of serious action.

This story has officially entered the Tyson Zone... at this point, I'd be willing to believe they conspired to murder that DA who investigated in 1998 and buried him under the football field.

Legally Paterno may very well be in the clear, but unless Penn State is going to come out tomorrow and say that he's actually been senile for the past 10 years and they've just been using him as a prop to sell football tickets, I don't see any way that he survives this without his reputation completely shredded.

 

[Spacemans Bong]

I think people should read the grand jury report, if only to be confronted by how craven and evil Sandusky is. I'm certain his entire involvement with Second City was to find and groom boys for sex and that he didn't do an altruistic thing with them in the 30+ years he was involved with the charity.

I don't blame the janitor nor do I blame the grad assistant. This falls on the university, the athletic director, and Paterno. Let's face it, if the grad assistant went to JoePa and JoePa says "Dear God man, call the police NOW!" nobody is blaming the GA. State College is not a large town and the local police are probably in the bag of the university as much as the kampus kops are. Hell, the DA looking the other way proves that. He calls the cops, the university puts its weight on them to keep silent, and he gets fired and probably can't work in college football again. Same with the janitor.

If I ran PSU, I'd probably disband the football team, fire Paterno, bulldoze the lockers and start from scratch a year or two later. The stink is overwhelming and it's going to color everybody's impressions of Penn State football for the rest of their lives.

 

[Average Reds]

Do not read that grand jury thing if you have kids or have a soul. My God.

One of my closer friends has a son at Penn State right now. We spoke on Saturday and he was unaware of the scandal. By last night, he had read the Grand Jury report and he went from having a mock-serious attitude about the whole thing to wanting to burn the place down.

I'll probably read it today. Expecting a grim task.

 

[PortlandSoxFan]

This story has officially entered the Tyson Zone... at this point, I'd be willing to believe they conspired to murder that DA who investigated in 1998 and buried him under the football field.

Legally Paterno may very well be in the clear, but unless Penn State is going to come out tomorrow and say that he's actually been senile for the past 10 years and they've just been using him as a prop to sell football tickets, I don't see any way that he survives this without his reputation completely shredded.

I found another article yesterday on the dissapearance of the DA; evidently he had just announced the breaking up of a large heroin ring. A DA in Maryland prosecuting the same ring had a similar fate.

http://www.yardbird.com/midnight_ride_another_missing_PA_prosecutor_2.htm