Sports In the Courts Blog : New York Attorneys & Lawyers Specializing in Sports Law & Legal Analysis

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Jerry Sandusky, a former defensive coordinator at Penn State University, has been charged with sexually assaulting eight boys over a period of fifteen years. Sandusky founded a charity for children with absent or dysfunctional families called the "Second Mile Charity," and that is how he came into contact with the children he allegedly assaulted. Athletic Director Tim Curley and school Vice President Gary Schultz are also being charged with perjury and failure to report under Pennsylvania law, for not reporting the fact that a witness told them he saw Sandusky sexually abusing a naked boy in the locker room showers in 2002.  

The investigation into Sandusky's conduct reportedly commenced in 2008, after a parent of a victim alerted a high school football coach. At this point, there has to be an enormous amount of evidence against Sandusky. A copy of the grand jury presentment, which contains disturbing details of what Sandusky allegedly did, can be seen here.  Many of the incidents occurred in showers at Penn State, including one where a child between the ages of 11 and 13 was seen by a janitor pinned against a wall while Sandusky performed oral sex on him. Others occurred at Sandusky's home, and one incident actually took place at a high school where Sandusky had access to students. Despite the fact that an assistant principal found Sandusky and a victim lying on the floor facing each other, there is no indication that the incident was reported and investigated.

It is quite surprising that Sandusky is only being arrested now. Aside from being devastating to Penn State - a successful program that generally stays out of trouble - there are obvious liability issues, given that some of the incidents that occurred at Penn State were witnessed by others. Since Sandusky had access to Penn State's facilities even after retirement, he should have been watched more closely after some of these allegations were known. A State Senator has already called for the University to investigate a possible "cover up."