Jerry Sandusky Case

[Arethusa]

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As of this date, June 9, 2012, jury selection has concluded and the trial judge has ruled against dismissal of the charges and held that the identities of the alleged victims will be revealed.

Scuttlebutt surrounding jury selection is that a number of members of the panel have ties to Penn State. A change of venue in order to secure a more "objective" panel was not requested, however, by PA's A.G.

On Monday, June 11, 2012, the prosecution will begin presenting its evidence against the Defendant.

Arethusa ]


Initial post in thread dated November 10, 2011, following the announcement of Paterno's and Spanier's dismissals:

If anyone questions why PSU's Board of Trustees took this action, consider this.

The highest ranking PSU authorities relevant to this investigation had very likely known since 1997 that Jerry Sandusky had been under investigation for inappropriate conduct with boys when they were informed in 2002 about what was seen in that shower.

Yet these high ranking authorities duped themselves and others into believing that a 58 year old man was simply "horsing" around with a child despite the report that he had been anally penetrating him.

It defies credulity that these officials were not told the specific conduct that was involved, or why would the grad assistant report it in the first place?

The inaction of all involved allowed Sandusky allegedly to continue these acts for another 7 years on University property.

A travesty and tragedy and in the final analysis, a moral horror story.

Consider also the esteem in which this school has been held by millions upon millions in its 160 some year history; its $1.5 Billion endowment in addition to support with state tax money and federal funding for research and other projects; that state and federal reporting laws requiring the informing of police authorities of this conduct may have been broken; and that the NCAA has yet to weigh in.

The issues are enormous, beginning first, last and always, with recompensing the University's moral failure to help and support the alleged 2002 victim and to prevent such damage to Sandusky's future alleged victims.

Noting here that I'm using the term alleged for correct legal terminology, despite a deep sense that the Trustees would not have acted if the charges against the perp were not 99% certain to stick in the final analysis.


Joe Paterno out at Penn State - President Graham Spanier also fired

FOX Sports
Updated Nov 9, 2011 10:31 PM ET

Penn State football coach Joe Paterno was fired late Wednesday night as the result of a growing child-sex scandal that has engulfed the program. The move is effective immediately meaning he will never coach for the school again. President Graham Spanier was also fired.

In their statement, the board announced, "The Pennsylvania State University Board of Trustees and Graham Spanier have decided that, effective immediately, Dr. Spanier is no longer president of the University. Additionally, the board determined that it is in the best interest of the University for Joe Paterno to no longer serve as head football coach, effective immediately.

"The board has named Dr. Rodney A. Erickson, executive vice president and provost, as the interim president of the University. Tom Bradley, assistant coach, has been named interim head football coach."

Earlier in the day, Paterno, the winningest coach in FBS history, had announced that he would retire at season’s end, allowing him to coach the Nittany Lions’ final home game this Saturday against Nebraska. After an afternoon of calls for the coach’s immediate removal, the board called the emergency meeting.

It caps a fifth day since the revelation of a grand jury investigation that led to 40 charges relating to alleged sexual abuse of children, some of it allegedly occurring within Penn State football facilities, by longtime and former Penn State assistant Jerry Sandusky.

According to the grand jury report, Paterno was first notified of the alleged abuse in 2002 by then-graduate assistant and current assistant coach Mike McQueary, who reported seeing Sandusky in the Penn State showers with a 10-year-old boy. Paterno notified the athletic director, Tim Curley, and a vice president, Gary Schultz. Both Curley and Schultz have been charged for their failures to report the information to authorities. Both men also stepped down from the school on Sunday.

For the place known as Happy Valley, times have been anything but in State College, Pa. Shortly after Sandusky’s arrest on Saturday, details began to emerge of the alleged abuse; the grand jury report detailing claims of molestation by eight boys over 15 years. Among incidents that allegedly occurred on campus was McQueary’s claim that he witnessed Sandusky sodomizing a boy in the showers in the football locker room.

Link: msn.foxsports.com/collegefootball/story/joe-paterno-fired-penn-state-football-coach-president-graham-spanier-child-sex-abuse-scandal-board-of-trustees-meeting-110911


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Hopefully, this decision is a good start at helping to bring some sense of peace and justice to the victims and their families,

Arethusa

[sarahnn]

I agree, Arethusa. Justice has finally prevailed. There really should be moral outrage. These adults should be protecting our youth, not abusing them nor allowing others to continue with the abuse. It is truly a horror story.

The firing of the beloved legend, Joe Paterno is a good start to send a message that nothing should be above the safety and welfare of this Nations' children.

[marinecpl]

These disgusting f--ks were more concerned about the bowl game money than the health and safety of the boys brutalized by Jerry Sandusky. In his 45 years of being the head coach, Paterno led Penn State to 37 bowl games. That computes into ten of millions of dollars, maybe even hundreds of millions of dollars. Those millions are why the Penn State administration decided to ignore the fact that a child rapist was on the Penn State football staff.

[101ABN]

Paterno should have exercised his vaunted leadership and gone to the police himself when his higherups did nothing.

Silence is acceptance.

[marinecpl]

Silence absolutely is acceptance.

And like I said, the millions in bowl game money is more important.

[sarahnn]

Nov 14, 2011 9:37:49 GMT -8 marinecpl said:

These disgusting f--ks were more concerned about the bowl game money than the health and safety of the boys brutalized by Jerry Sandusky. In his 45 years of being the head coach, Paterno led Penn State to 37 bowl games. That computes into ten of millions of dollars, maybe even hundreds of millions of dollars. Those millions are why the Penn State administration decided to ignore the fact that a child rapist was on the Penn State football staff.

Sandusky was a slick child rapist and the other men appreciated him keeping these crimes of child molestation out of sight so they wouldn't have to deal with it any more than they had to.

Are there any stand-up men left in our society or did they go the way of cowboys with white hats and dinosaurs?

[chillyd]

Cowboys had dinosaurs?

I'm wondering why none of these bastards, including Papa Joe, haven't spent the night in jail & stood before the judge making bail.

[sarahnn]

Nov 14, 2011 13:38:55 GMT -8 chillyd said:

Cowboys had dinosaurs?

LMAO! I didn't say that right.

I'm wondering why none of these bastards, including Papa Joe, haven't spent the night in jail & stood before the judge making bail.

I don't know. As for now they must feel pretty stupid being used by Sandusky to set up a child-rape center.

Sandusky, the child predator, is out on bail now.

[Arethusa]

Hi Y'all,

I agree with all of your observations, adding only that it is my opinion that Jerry Sandusky is a sociopath who has engineered his entire life, including his professional career, toward the purpose of meeting, seducing and violating young boys.

And that he will stop at nothing to prevent any intervention or prevention of what is clearly an overwhelming compulsion to do so, including incriminating himself on national television via the Bob Costas interview with his attorney only a few days ago.

That he has been allowed to reach into the public airways to denounce, intimidate and likely further emotionally terrorize his alleged accusers is criminal in and of itself.

Here's a reposting of an item I posted last night at HFTM that has a great ongoing discussion of this case on its boards.

I'll place a link to that forum at the end of the comments I made there in noting that the arraignment judge who unethically seemed predisposed to let Sandusky continue his activities unmolested has, thankfully, now been replaced by the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts (AOPC).

There are also remarks about the reported sale by Joe Paterno of the couple's marital home to his wife for $1.


Post title: New Judge Appointed to Handle Sandusky Case

In response to complaints following Jerry Sandusky's bail hearing that District Judge Leslie Dutchcot had ties to his Second Mile charity, the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts has appointed Judge Robert E. Scott, a Senior Judge from Westmoreland County, PA, to preside over Sandusky's Preliminary Hearing on charges of sexually abusing at least 8 minor children over a period of 15 years.

Senior Judges are distinguished former elected judges to Pennsylvania's Common Pleas Courts who, upon reaching the age of 70, have been invited to serve in their Judicial Districts through the mandatory retirement age of 78.

Jerry Sandusky's Preliminary Hearing is scheduled to take place on December 7th.


New judge named to preside over Sandusky hearing

By MICHAEL MUSKAL
Los Angeles Times
Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2011 - 12:00 am

A new judge has been named to preside over the preliminary hearing of Jerry Sandusky, the former coach charged in the Penn State child sex-abuse scandal, amid questions about the former jurist's ties to Sandusky's charity.

After Centre County, Pa., court officials sought an out-of-county jurist, the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts said in a posting on its website that Robert E. Scott, a senior district judge in Westmoreland County, would take over the case.

He will replace District Judge Leslie Dutchcot in overseeing the case against former defensive football coach Sandusky, charged with sexually abusing at least eight boys over 15 years.

Dutchcot had drawn criticism in recent days for releasing Sandusky on unsecured bail of $100,000, less than the $500,000 that prosecutors had wanted.

The judge was also a volunteer to the Second Mile charity, which was founded by Sandusky for at-risk children. Prosecutors allege that the charity was a source of children allegedly abused by Sandusky.

The scandal has rocked the Penn State campus and football program and led to the dismissal of head football coach Joe Paterno and the university's president.

In its posting, the administrative office noted that Scott "has no known connections with the Pennsylvania State University, the Second Mile charity, nor any officers or representatives of any of those entities."

Scott, a senior judge, will preside at the Sandusky preliminary hearing scheduled for Dec. 7.

Link: www.sacbee.com/2011/11/16/4060202/new-judge-named-to-preside-over.html#ixzz1dvofUElD


It was great to see quick action taken on this issue. Pity it was taken too late to keep the accused off the streets and the airwaves of America through which he is freely attempting to intimidate, if not terrorize his alleged victims, in my opinion.

Among other restrictions on Sandusky's freedoms until his trial is concluded, this case is seriously in need of a gag order.

Edited to add that Joe Paterno has apparently added to his record of poor decision making with regard to the accusations against Jerry Sandusky.

Paterno was aware as early as March that the Grand Jury would act on this case fairly quickly. In July, he sold the residence owned by himself and his wife in the entireties to her for $1 so that it is in her name solely.

Although the sale may have been for "estate planning purposes", it looks mighty fishy. Entireties assets cannot be executed upon in attempts to collect a judgment debt, but Paterno's half of the value would be included in totaling the value of his assets altogether. With his wife as sole owner, none of the home's value could be tallied against him.

The risk here is that, if there is a judgment against Joe Paterno in a possible civil action by Sandusky's alleged victims, given the timing of this sale, it could be voided as a fraudulent transfer made to avoid liability and the entire value of the property included in his assets as a penalty.

With the possible result of depriving him and his wife of a place to live.

Link for the foregoing post at #87 in HFTM's "Penn State Abuse Case" Discussion Thread:

helpfindthemissing.org/forum/showthread.php?t=27461&page=9


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And, for those interested, here's the link to the entire "Penn State Abuse Case" forum at HFTM:

helpfindthemissing.org/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=204


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One last thing - all the concern that the 2002 witness, Mike McQueary, has not been dismissed from the University but placed only on paid administrative leave overlooks that he is a key witness in the case against Jerry Sandusky.

A great weekend to all,

Arethusa

[chillyd]

I understand now that Mike McQueary claims he discussed this incident with 'the police'. Neither the university nor local police have any reports of this.

www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45307325/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/t/penn-state-assistant-says-he-did-go-police-about-sandusky-incident/

Of course, if he did & nothing was done about it, who's face does the egg end upon?

[Arethusa]

Hi Y'all!

Needless to say, a lot has happened with the Sandusky case since this thread was initiated on November 10th of last year.

Most noteworthy being the passing of legendary Nittany Lions football coach, Joe Paterno, not too long ago of lung cancer.

The latest is that the trial against Jerry Sandusky has been moved from its original May date into early June.

My PSU roots as a student services administrator from 1969 to 1985 yielded a raft of e-mailings from former students and staffers wanting to know my opinion and soliciting my support for Joe Pa.

One even sent a video of the funeral procession in State College.

A former PSU co-worker even told me that Sandusky had coached him as a QB for the Juniata College football team when he was a senior back in the late sixties, and never exhibited the behavior toward him of which he has been accused.

I replied with the opinion that a kid in his early twenties was in his sexual dotage where the likes of a pedophile are concerned!

When the trial date nears, I'll try to post updates here on how it's all going in hopes of sparking some commentary from all of you as well.

Enjoy your Tuesday and the week ahead and best wishes for a great Easter/Passover Weekend.

Arethusa

[Arethusa]

In a move many consider long overdue, the Pennsylvania state trial judge handling the Sandusky case has issued an order barring attorneys both for the prosecution and the defense and everyone else involved, including investigators and potential witnesses, from discussing the case publicly before the June trial.

Also at the link is another for a piece in which Sandusky's attorney indicated last Friday that, if dismissed by the judge, he will refile his motion to dismiss all charges when discovery is concluded.


Judge issues gag order in Sandusky case

By Jeremy Roebuck
Philadelphia Inquirer
Monday, April 9, 2012

The judge presiding over Jerry Sandusky's child sex abuse case issued a gag order Monday, silencing the former Penn State assistant football coach and his unusually talkative attorneys.

In a filing in Centre County Court, Judge John M. Cleland barred prosecutors and Sandusky's defense team from publicly discussing the case in the run-up to his June trial.

The ruling also applies to anyone involved in the ongoing investigation or any potential witnesses that may be called to testify at trial.

Since Sandusky's arrest in November on child sex abuse charges, his attorney Joseph Amendola has been a constant and frequent voice in the media coverage of his client's case - at times raising eyebrows by offering Sandusky up for media interviews.

Days after the arrest, the former coach appeared in an interview with NBC's Bob Costas in which he proclaimed that he had never had sex with any of his accusers but often stumbled over questions. Asked whether he was sexually attracted to young boys, Sandusky hesitated for several minutes before replying: "I enjoy their enthusiasm. I just have a good time with them.". . .

More at the link:

www.philly.com/philly/news/breaking/20120409_Judge_issues_gag_order_in_Sandusky_case.html


Arethusa

[Arethusa]

Opening statements by the prosecution and the defense will be presented in the Commonwealth v. Jerry Sandusky trial in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania on Monday, June 11, 2012.

The following piece introducing the trial judge and discussing the proceedings in the case, including jury selection that began on Monday, June 5, 2012, should bring you current with the news on that front up to now.


Poised Veteran Judge John M. Cleland Reins in Sandusky Storm

The Nashville Tennessean
June 9, 2012


BELLEFONTE, PA. — He muscled the Jerry Sandusky case to trial in a breakneck seven months and navigated through dozens of pretrial motions and complicated grand jury secrecy issues. In two days, he managed to seat a jury in a case that has attracted worldwide publicity.

Judge John Cleland was brought in from a county 80 miles away to preside over Sandusky’s child sexual abuse case in December, after all the judges in Centre County disqualified themselves.

In the months since, the 64-year-old jurist has displayed a textbook judicial bearing on the bench, exhibited a scholarly bent in his written opinions and a shown a firm determination to avoid any unneeded delays.

On Friday, he ruled against defense motions for dismissal of some or all charges, again keeping the process moving.

One of the people who didn’t make the jury said he noticed how Cleland didn’t want them to stand up when he entered the room, and tried to put them at ease.

“He’s really a great judge, and that’s what a lot of the jurors were talking about,” said James Ellis, a retail manager who was among the last people dismissed before the panel was set Wednesday.

Opening statements by the defense and prosecution begin Monday in the trial of Sandusky, 68, the former Penn State assistant football coach who is accused of sexual abuse of 10 boys over 15 years, allegations he has repeatedly denied.

The scandal toppled longtime coach Joe Paterno, who trustees say didn’t do enough to report abuse allegations, and also resulted in criminal charges against two administrators. . .

Link for the rest:

www.tennessean.com/viewart/20120609/NEWS08/306090033/Poised-veteran-judge-reins-Sandusky-storm

Arethusa

[peterd]

Judge denies motions to dismiss Sandusky sex abuse charges

The judge overseeing Jerry Sandusky's child sexual abuse case on Friday denied the defense's request to have the charges dismissed, leaving all 52 counts intact with opening statements three days away.

Judge John Cleland's three-paragraph order didn't explain the reasoning for turning down a set of defense motions.

Sandusky's attorney had asked for all charges to be thrown out or at least for Cleland to conduct a hearing to see if some charges were supported by sufficient facts.

Sandusky, 68, a retired assistant Penn State football coach, is accused of sexually abusing 10 boys over a 15-year span, allegations he has consistently denied.

www.foxnews.com/us/2012/06/08/judge-denies-motions-to-dismiss-sandusky-sex-abuse-charges/

[Arethusa]

This piece from the Miami Herald provides some pretty good coverage of events that took place as the Sandusky trial began with the taking of testimony yesterday.

There is also a comprehensive set of links to coverage of other issues and activities, including the opening statements of the prosecutor, Joseph McGettigan, and defense attorney, Joseph Amendola.


Testimony begins in Sandusky sex-abuse trial

By Curtis Tate
McClatchy Newspapers
June 11, 2012

BELLEFONTE, Pa. -- As opening arguments began Monday in the trial of former Penn State football coach Jerry Sandusky, prosecutors showed jurors slides of eight adolescent boys, putting faces to the stories of children alleged to have suffered sexual abuse by Sandusky over the years.

The first of those men, known as Victim 4, testified in graphic detail about his encounters with Sandusky. "If I had said anything, it would be so much worse. I would deny it forever," he said.

Sandusky's attorney, Joseph Amendola, asked jurors to "keep an open mind," and questioned the motivations of the accusers.

It was the moment many residents had anticipated - and dreaded - for more than half a year.

In November, a bombshell dropped on this community, where the university is the biggest source of employment - and the biggest source of pride. A 52-count indictment against Sandusky on child sex-abuse charges led to the firing of the university's president, Graham Spanier, and the indictment of two university officials on perjury charges. . .

Link for more: www.miamiherald.com/2012/06/11/v-fullstory/2844539/testimony-begins-in-sandusky-sex.html

Arethusa