BELLEFONTE, Pa. - On Monday, emails in the Jerry Sandusky child-sex abuse case between Penn State University president, vice president and athletic director were released revealing that the top university officials were involved in a Sandusky cover-up.
The emails show that the university president Graham Spanier, vice president Gary Schultz and athletic director, Tim Curley, exchanged emails about "the subject" and the "incident," without specifically mentioning the former assistant football coach, but mentioning his charity organization, Second Mile. The emails were sent almost two weeks after Mike McQueary, the prosecutor's star witness in the case, reported seeing Sandusky in the shower with a boy.
The emails also indicate that the late PSU football coach, Joe Paterno, was informed of the incident and insisted on a cover-up.
One part of the email as released on the Atlantic Wire between Curley and Spanier reveals, "(after talking to Joe Paterno) ....I would be more comfortable meeting with the person... Tell him the information we received... and tell him we are aware of the first situation."
Spanier replied, "The only downside for us is if the message isn't 'heard' and acted upon, and we become vulnerable for not having reported it. But that can be assessed down the road," as reported by the Atlantic Wire.
Joe Paterno died in January 2012, and the three others were fired from the university. However, Schultz and Curley can face perjury charges for lying to a jury, since both men admitted to not knowing of any such incidence during their testimonies in the Sandusky trial.
Sandusky, 68, is currently in Centre County prison awaiting his sentencing, which is scheduled to held in about 90 days.
Earlier this month a jury of seven women and five men found the former Penn State football coach guilty on 45 counts of child sexual abuse and molestation. He was taken in by the country sheriff. His sentencing will be held in the next few months. The decision came on the second day of deliberation of the fast-paced eight-day trial. A jury of seven women and five men found the 68 year-old guilty of 45 out of the 48 counts against him for sexual abuse of eight victims over a span of 15 years.
The defense team of Jerry Sandusky, who was convicted Friday on 40 counts of child sexual abuse and molestation, says that the former Penn State football coach will file for an appeal.Joseph Amendolo, Sandusky defense attorney blames the defeat on the court's denial of a delay earlier month, arguing that the defense team was not given enough time to prepare for the case. Sandusky was taken away.
Throughout the case defense maintained that the victims had ulterior motives for alleging the abuse. The heart of the defense lied in showing Sandusky's character and reputation to be noble. Throughout the week defense is tired to discredit the testimonies of alleged victims and their parents. Amendola has constantly stated and argued that the victims have been ambiguous about date and time details of the alleged attacks.
All nine alleged victims claimed that the 68-year-old ex-coach had bought them gifts and told them he loved them. They have testified to incidents where Sandusky touched them in showers, and abused them in his house.
