New guilt in Penn St. sex
A JURY on Friday convicted former Penn State president Graham Spanier of keeping suspected child sex abuse by coach and serial predator Jerry Sandusky quiet in 2001.
Jurors found Spanier guilty of one count of child endangerment over his handling of a complaint against the retired assistant football coach but found him not guilty of conspiracy and a second endangerment count.
Spanier stood, his face emotionless as the verdict was read. Jurors deliberated for 13 hours.
The trial revolved around how Spanier, 68, and two other university leaders handled a complaint by a graduate assistant who said he saw Sandusky sexually molesting a boy in a team shower in 2001.
The trio told Sandusky he could not bring children onto the campus anymore but did not report the matter to police.
“Graham Spanier found guilty. No one is above the law,” Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro tweeted. “My office will hold anyone accountable who abuses or fails to protect kids.”
Spanier (photo) faces five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
Two of Spanier’s former lieutenants, athletic director Tim Curley and vice president Gary Schultz, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor child endangerment a week ago and testified against Spanier.
Sandusky was not arrested until 2011 after an anonymous tip led prosecutors to investigate. He was convicted in 2012 of sexually abusing 10 young boys and sentenced to 30 to 60 years in prison.
A year later, Penn State agreed to pay $59.7 million to 26 sexual abuse victims.
The scandal sent shockwaves through the Penn State community. It led to the firing of beloved coach Joe Paterno — who died of cancer at 85 in early 2012.
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