Report: Sandusky abuse dates back to 1970s
It seemed news out of Penn State University couldn’t get any worse in the wake of revelations from the Freeh Report regarding Penn State’s complicity in the actions of former defensive coordinator and convicted pedophile Jerry Sandusky.
But on Monday, a report from Sara Ganim of The Patriot-News claimed three men recently told police they were abused by Sandusky in the 1970s or 1980s. This development marks the first time alleged victims have reported abuse before the 1990s, thus weakening Sandusky’s defense that he was not a pedophile because a person does not suddenly become a pedophile.
Sandusky is currently awaiting sentencing after being found guilty in June of 45 counts of child sex abuse spread among 10 victims. More victims, including Sandusky’s adopted son, have come forward saying they were abused by Sandusky as well.
According to the Freeh Report, the culmination of an over six-month internal review of Sandusky’s actions at Penn State led by former FBI Director Louis Freeh, university president Graham Spanier, senior vice president of finance and business Gary Schultz, athletic director Timothy Curley and head football coach Joe Paterno all concealed Sandusky’s reported child sex abuse with “consistent disregard … for the safety and welfare of Sandusky’s child victims.”
Since the report was published last week, the halo over Paterno’s head on a mural at Penn State was removed. Debates continue to rage in the papers and over the radios across the country as to whether to remove a statue of Paterno at Penn State and what the revelations mean for the football program.
Ganim’s report Monday on additional victims is sure to add more fuel to fire engulfing one of the most prestigious football programs in the country.
