Three former Penn State officials have been sentenced for failing to alert the authorities to the sexual abuse allegations against disgraced football coach Jerry Sandusky (pictured above).
Former university president Graham Spanier, Tim Curley and Gary Schultz were all convicted of child endangerment in the wake of the scandal surrounding the convicted serial child molester, who is currently serving 30 to 60 years in prison.
Spanier, whose total sentence was four to 12 months incarceration, will be on probation for two years and must pay a $7,500 fine, according to spokesman for Pennsylvania’s attorney general’s office, Joe Grace, CNN reported.
In addition, Schultz, the former university vice president, could serve a minimum of two months in jail and a maximum of 23 months; and Curley, the former university athletic director, could serve a minimum of three months in jail and maximum of 23 months.
Prosecutors argued that the staffers failed as leaders and cared more about themselves and the school’s image than protecting the children.
“All three ignored the opportunity to put an end to (Sandusky’s) crimes when they had a chance to do so.”
Expressing his remorse, Spanier said: “I deeply regret I didn’t intervene more forcefully.”
Sandusky was an assistant football coach at Penn State under Joe Paterno from 1969 until 1999. In 2011, he was arrested and charged with 52 counts of sexual abuse on young boys over a 15-year period from 1994-2009. He was found guilty on 45 of the charges and Paterno was fired as a result when it became clear that Sandusky used his access to Penn State facilities and the football program to lure victims.
Paterno, who was an icon in the sport before the scandal, died of lung cancer in January 2012 at age 85.