"Protection of Legacy and Institution"

Joe Paterno Penn State

"The most saddening finding by the Special Investigative Counsel is the total and consistent disregard by the most senior leaders like Joe Paterno at Penn State University  for the safety and welfare of Sandusky's child victims," the Freeh Commission report, released Thursday morning, reads. "The most powerful men at Penn State failed to take any steps for 14 years to protect the children who Sandusky victimized".

The Case against Jerry Sandusky

 “Before May 1998, several staff members and football coaches regularly observed Sandusky showering with young boys in the Lasch Building (now the East Area Locker Building or “Old Lasch”). None of the individuals interviewed notified their superiors of this behavior.”

- “Former Coach Richard Anderson testified at Sandusky’s trial in June 2012 that he often saw Sandusky in the showers with children in the football facilities, but he did not believe the practice to be improper.”

- In May 1998, Sandusky assaulted an 11-year old boy, “Victim 6,” in the Lasch (Football) Building shower.

Soon after the 1998 incident, police covertly listened in on Sandusky conversing with the victim’s mother. During that conversation, Sandusky admitted that he had showered with boys before and that he told the boy he loved him. In response to a question of whether or not his private parts touched the boy, he said, “I don’t think so… maybe.” He asked to speak with the victim, but she declined. Sandusky said, “I understand. I was wrong. I wish I could get forgiveness. I know I won’t get it from you. I wish I were dead.”

Police didn’t question Sandusky at the time. About a week or two later, “the local District Attorney declined to prosecute Sandusky for his actions with the boy in the shower in the Lasch Building on May 3, 1998.”

When and how did Joe Paterno know?

“By May 5, 1998, Schultz had communicated with Curley about the Sandusky incident. In an email from Curley to Schultz and Spanier at 5:24 p.m. captioned ‘Joe Paterno,’ Curley reports, ‘I have touched base with the coach. Keep us posted. Thanks.’ 

“After Curley’s initial updates to Paterno, the available record is not clear as to how the conclusion of the Sandusky investigation was conveyed to Paterno. Witnesses consistently told the Special Investigative Counsel that Paterno was in control of the football facilities and knew “everything that was going on.”

Freeh Report