June 23 (Bloomberg) -- Pennsylvania State University, its reputation damaged by the trial of former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky, may have to compensate his victims after his conviction on 45 counts in the child-sex abuse case.
“Penn State is likely to have to pay these victims a great deal of money to compensate them for the awful things that happened to them, most of which might not have occurred had Penn State officials put the safety of children above the reputation of their institution,” said Lisa Friel, former chief of the Manhattan District Attorney’s sex crimes unit and now vice president of sexual misconduct consulting for T&M Protection Resources LLC, a security and investigations company.
Jurors in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, deliberated about 20 hours over two days before convicting Sandusky yesterday of charges including engaging in involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with someone under 16 and aggravated indecent assault over his abuse of 10 boys over a 15-year-period.
The 68-year-old Sandusky, who was led away in handcuffs by police after the verdict, faces a maximum sentence of 20 years on each of the most serious charges, meaning he could spend the rest of his life in prison after he is sentenced by Judge John M. Cleland. Sandusky’s lawyer said the former coach would appeal his conviction.
Sandusky had been under house arrest since waiving a preliminary hearing in December. The former defensive coordinator for Penn State’s Nittany Lions football squad had been charged with 52 criminal counts related to the alleged abuse of 10 boys he met through a charity he founded for needy children. Cleland dismissed some of the counts before the jury began deliberations.
Concerns, Compensation
Penn State said it would establish a forum to help address the concerns of Sandusky’s victims and compensate them for claims related to the university.
“No verdict can undo the pain and suffering caused by Mr. Sandusky but we hope this judgment helps the victims and their families along their path to healing,” university officials said in an e-mailed statement after the verdict.
“Counsel to the university plan to reach out to counsel to the victims of Mr. Sandusky’s abuse in the near future with additional details,” the officials said.
Sandusky played and coached under Joe Paterno, Penn State’s head football coach, for more than 30 years before retiring in 1999. Paterno, who died in January, and former university President Graham Spanier were fired amid criticism they didn’t do enough to stop Sandusky’s alleged abuse.
Officials Charged
Two Penn State officials, athletic director Timothy Curley and former Vice President Gary Schultz, were charged with perjury and failing to report allegations of sex abuse of boys Sandusky befriended. Curley and Schultz have denied wrongdoing.
Paterno coached the team to 409 wins, a record at college football’s highest level. The victories included two national championships and a record 24 bowl victories in 46 seasons as head coach at one of college football’s most prestigious programs.
“Penn State is likely to have to pay these victims a great deal of money to compensate them for the awful things that happened to them, most of which might not have occurred had Penn State officials put the safety of children above the reputation of their institution,” said Lisa Friel, former chief of the Manhattan District Attorney’s sex crimes unit and now vice president of sexual misconduct consulting for T&M Protection Resources LLC, a security and investigations company.
Jurors in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, deliberated about 20 hours over two days before convicting Sandusky yesterday of charges including engaging in involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with someone under 16 and aggravated indecent assault over his abuse of 10 boys over a 15-year-period.
The 68-year-old Sandusky, who was led away in handcuffs by police after the verdict, faces a maximum sentence of 20 years on each of the most serious charges, meaning he could spend the rest of his life in prison after he is sentenced by Judge John M. Cleland. Sandusky’s lawyer said the former coach would appeal his conviction.
Sandusky had been under house arrest since waiving a preliminary hearing in December. The former defensive coordinator for Penn State’s Nittany Lions football squad had been charged with 52 criminal counts related to the alleged abuse of 10 boys he met through a charity he founded for needy children. Cleland dismissed some of the counts before the jury began deliberations.
Concerns, Compensation
Penn State said it would establish a forum to help address the concerns of Sandusky’s victims and compensate them for claims related to the university.
“No verdict can undo the pain and suffering caused by Mr. Sandusky but we hope this judgment helps the victims and their families along their path to healing,” university officials said in an e-mailed statement after the verdict.
“Counsel to the university plan to reach out to counsel to the victims of Mr. Sandusky’s abuse in the near future with additional details,” the officials said.
Sandusky played and coached under Joe Paterno, Penn State’s head football coach, for more than 30 years before retiring in 1999. Paterno, who died in January, and former university President Graham Spanier were fired amid criticism they didn’t do enough to stop Sandusky’s alleged abuse.
Officials Charged
Two Penn State officials, athletic director Timothy Curley and former Vice President Gary Schultz, were charged with perjury and failing to report allegations of sex abuse of boys Sandusky befriended. Curley and Schultz have denied wrongdoing.
Paterno coached the team to 409 wins, a record at college football’s highest level. The victories included two national championships and a record 24 bowl victories in 46 seasons as head coach at one of college football’s most prestigious programs.