Sex-abuse charges against coach rock Penn State
Source: Agencies |
November 8, 2011, Tuesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
CRIMINAL charges for sexually abusing boys filed against a longtime assistant to legendary Penn State football coach Joe Paterno have jolted students, fans and alumni across Pennsylvania in the United States.
Former defensive coordinator Gerald "Jerry" Sandusky, 67, of State College, where Penn State is located, faces an array of charges involving eight boys, assaulting at least one in the college team's facilities, according to state prosecutors.
When a witness to one of the alleged assaults reported it to Paterno, he alerted Athletic Director Timothy Curley, a grand jury statement said.
"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," Paterno said in a statement of his own on Sunday. "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."
The charges reach into the top echelons of the college's sports program as Curley, 57, and Gary Schultz, 62, senior vice president for finance and business, were charged with failing to report the alleged crimes, and with perjury.
No charges have been made against Paterno, 84, the winningest coach in the top division of collegiate sports whose players have gone on to star in the National Football League.
Doug Gamber, 51, of Rossville, Pennsylvania, a 1982 Penn State graduate, said he was "shocked, appalled."
Asked if the charges would reverberate across the state, he said: "Without a doubt. Penn State has kind of a pristine reputation."
Sandusky, who was defensive coordinator for 23 years and was once considered a likely successor to Paterno, allegedly targeted boys from 1994 to 2009, a grand jury report said.
Sandusky's attorney Joe Amendola has said his client, who left Penn State coaching in 1999, was shaken by the charges but knew they were coming. "He's maintained his innocence," Amendola said.
Sandusky was arraigned last Saturday and released after posting US$100,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is set for tomorrow.
The charges include seven counts of first-degree involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, each punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a US$25,000 fine, Pennsylvania State Attorney General Linda Kelly said.
One victim, a boy of about 11 years old when he met Sandusky in 2005 or 2006, testified that Sandusky performed oral sex on him more than 20 times through early 2008, and forced the victim to perform oral sex on him, the report said.
Former defensive coordinator Gerald "Jerry" Sandusky, 67, of State College, where Penn State is located, faces an array of charges involving eight boys, assaulting at least one in the college team's facilities, according to state prosecutors.
When a witness to one of the alleged assaults reported it to Paterno, he alerted Athletic Director Timothy Curley, a grand jury statement said.
"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," Paterno said in a statement of his own on Sunday. "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."
The charges reach into the top echelons of the college's sports program as Curley, 57, and Gary Schultz, 62, senior vice president for finance and business, were charged with failing to report the alleged crimes, and with perjury.
No charges have been made against Paterno, 84, the winningest coach in the top division of collegiate sports whose players have gone on to star in the National Football League.
Doug Gamber, 51, of Rossville, Pennsylvania, a 1982 Penn State graduate, said he was "shocked, appalled."
Asked if the charges would reverberate across the state, he said: "Without a doubt. Penn State has kind of a pristine reputation."
Sandusky, who was defensive coordinator for 23 years and was once considered a likely successor to Paterno, allegedly targeted boys from 1994 to 2009, a grand jury report said.
Sandusky's attorney Joe Amendola has said his client, who left Penn State coaching in 1999, was shaken by the charges but knew they were coming. "He's maintained his innocence," Amendola said.
Sandusky was arraigned last Saturday and released after posting US$100,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is set for tomorrow.
The charges include seven counts of first-degree involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, each punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a US$25,000 fine, Pennsylvania State Attorney General Linda Kelly said.
One victim, a boy of about 11 years old when he met Sandusky in 2005 or 2006, testified that Sandusky performed oral sex on him more than 20 times through early 2008, and forced the victim to perform oral sex on him, the report said.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
