Wow! This is the first I’ve heard of this. I had no idea. If I would have seen the report, I would certainly have done some things differently. Boy, this is a shock.Jerry Sandusky investigator Jerry Lauro • Discussing a 1998 report, written by psychologist Dr. Alycia A. Chambers, that suggested that the former Penn State coach’s actions fit a “likely pedophile’s pattern.” “There was very little doubt in my mind (Sandusky) … was a male predator, someone that was in the process of grooming a young man for abuse,” Chambers said recently in regards to the report, which didn’t surface publicly until recently.
They are purposefully depriving him of this opportunity (to shave) so he looks unkempt.Lawyer Victor Acevedo • Discussing the treatment of his client, teacher Mark Berndt, who stands accused of doing unspeakable things to his Miramonte Elementary School students. (Trigger warning on that link.) Berndt pleaded not guilty today in court, and his lawyer says that Berndt’s disheveled appearance prevented him from going in front of court with dignity. Acevedo also complained that his jailers identified Berndt as a child molester over the jail’s loudspeaker. “We cannot have the sheriff’s department deputies acting in such a way to essentially put a bull’s-eye on his head,” he told reporters after the hearing. The sheriff’s office took the claim seriously, investigating the complaint, which was denied by jail officials.
There’s no question in my mind that I conveyed to (university officials) that I saw Jerry with a boy in the shower and that it was severe sexual acts going on and that it was wrong and over the line.Penn State assistant coach Mike McQueary • Describing his handling of the alleged sexual abuse incident involving Jerry Sandusky back in 2002. McQueary made the statements while speaking at the pre-trial hearing for Tim Curley and Gary Schultz, two former Penn State officials charged with covering up Sandusky’s crimes by not acting upon McQueary’s evidence. The assistant coach, currently on leave, emphasized that when he went to the officials, he expected something to be done: “In my mind, that is the police. I want to make that clear.” In regards to the controversy around his handling of the incident, McQueary, who was “shocked” and “horrified” by what happened, said he wasn’t thinking straight in the direct aftermath of seeing Sandusky, but he was sure that the incident was over at the point he left. source (via • follow)
In tactical move, Jerry Sandusky waives pre-trial hearing: Sandusky’s decision to waive the pre-trial prevents the alleged victims from having to recollect their cases today, but surprised many; some see the decision as a smart tactical move on his lawyer’s part. source
The charges keep coming: Former Penn State football coach Jerry Sandusky was arrested today (he was first arrested on November 5th) on the strength of two new accusations of child sexual abuse against him. The charges were the result of the two accusers presenting testimony to a grand jury; both of them were members of Sandusky’s charity program for at-risk youths, The Second Mile. As this case has worn on, especially following two rather disastrous media interviews by Sandusky (with the bizarre approval of his defense attorney, Joe Amendola), it seems like the total number of his alleged victims may continue to increase at an illuminating, grim, and chilling rate. source
The only thing that transpired was the same stuff that happened to me. This kid has been through a lot because of the way I controlled him and abused him.Bernie Fine accuser Zach Tomaselli • Admitting to the Associated Press that, years after he says former Syracuse assistant coach Bernie Fine sexually abused him, he did the same thing to another young boy. Fortunately, Tomaselli says that he’s getting help and realizes the error of his way. The revelations came out as a result of the case that Tomaselli is involved in — which will likely lead to a plea bargain for as much as three years in jail and a spot on the sex offenders’ registry — and his lawyer’s attempt to suppress the confession from the press. However, Tomaselli came clean, because he said he was “sick of hiding behind my attorney.” source (via • follow)
They talked to him for four hours over roughly two days. This is different from the Bob Costas interview a few weeks back, which was a phone interview done on the fly; this is more in depth. So why did he agree to it, knowing how poorly that one went? Well, he wanted an opportunity to explain his motives — which he says have been greatly misconstrued by prosecutors and the public at large. “They’ve taken everything that I ever did for any young person and twisted it to say that my motives were sexual or whatever,” he said. “I had kid after kid after kid who might say I was a father figure. And they just twisted that all.” In the interview, he confirmed that he gave children gifts — which prosecutors have painted as part of a confidence scheme — but tried to explain it was meant as positive reinforcement. He also claimed the his relationships with the alleged victims extended far beyond the dates of alleged sexual abuse. And though his world has fallen apart around him, he claims to confide in his dog Bo. Read it and see what you guys think.
You have nothing to feel ashamed of. I want you to know you didn’t do anything wrong. Please know that you were chosen by a monster. It’s not your fault. You didn’t ask for it and, most of all, you didn’t deserve it.Writer-director Tyler Perry • In an open letter, published by The Daily Beast, to an 11-year-old alleged victim in the Jerry Sandusky case. “Do you know that at the young age of 11 you had more courage than all the adults who let you down?” he writes. “All of the ones who didn’t go to the proper authorities, all of the ones who were worried about their careers, reputations, or livelihoods. All of the ones who didn’t want to get involved. Or even the ones who tried to convince your mother not to fight. You are stronger than them all! I wonder what they would have done if it were their own child.” You rock, Tyler.
No decision has been made. I told (the New York Times) exactly what I told (The Patriot-News); we have three viable options.The Second Mile CEO Dave Woodle • Refuting a New York Times report that the charity would fold as a result of the Jerry Sandusky scandal. Woodle says those three options are to continue as The Second Mile, change the charity’s name but not its focus, or to fold it entirely. ”We hope (option No. 3) doesn’t happen,” he continued. “We’re only into this four days. We’re figuring out what’s viable.” Do you think it’ll continue?
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Syracuse assistant basketball coach Bernie Fine says allegations that he molested two former ball boys for years are “patently false.”
In a statement released by one of his attorneys Friday, Fine says these allegations have been thoroughly investigated multiple times and that he has fully cooperated with past inquiries.
Fine says: “Sadly, we live in an allegation-based society and an internet age where in a matter of minutes one’s lifelong reputation can be severely damaged. I am confident that, as in the past, a review of these allegations will be discredited and restore my reputation.”
Keep in mind that there are some differences between this case and Jerry Sandusky’s case, where there was an alleged cover-up. Syracuse did, in fact, fully investigate the claims when they learned about them in 2005, but didn’t make any changes at the time because they couldn’t be proven. The claims are coming to a head again because a second alleged victim came forward on ESPN last night. EDIT: Slightly corrected the story, which changed since last night. Thanks The Only Plfrmat.
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Syracuse assistant coach placed on administrative leave: Bernie Fine, an assistant basketball coach, allegedly molested a ball boy for the school over a dozen-year period beginning in the mid-1980s, leading to a police investigation. (He denies the allegations, which the school learned about and investigated internally in 2005.) The alleged victim, who is now 39, came forward to ESPN’s Outside the Lines; ESPN says there may also be a second victim who was molested at the same time. (EDIT: Both victims came forward on the show.) Here’s the statement from the school, which reads: “In light of the new allegations and the Syracuse City Police investigation, this evening Chancellor (Nancy) Cantor asked Director of Athletics Dr. Daryl Gross, to place Associate Head Coach Bernie Fine on administrative leave.” This is obviously top-of-mind considering the Jerry Sandusky case.
If I had to speculate I wouldn’t be surprised if we had more victims come forward. That is why the attorney general and the state police have put up numbers for people to call if they’ve been a victim.Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett • Speculating on “Fox News Sunday” that there could be more victims in the Jerry Sandusky case beyond the eight already discovered. Corbett also had tough words for fired Penn State coach Joe Paterno and ousted school president Graham Spanier: ”I’ve always have said, your actions speak louder than your words. That should not have been able to continue,” he said. “The actions or the failure to act, while maybe not criminal, caused me not to have confidence in the president and in the coach.”
Newspaper page of the day: The Omaha World-Herald’s take on the Penn State scandal (designed by Jay St. Pierre) does something really interesting here — they wrap the game story around the statements released in the wake of the Penn State abuse scandal — an approach that hits its mark with a spot-on headline. (With the Nebraska Cornhuskers from nearby Lincoln, they’re on the other side of this whole mess.) A text-heavy page with an effective payoff. (thanks Charles Apple)
» “Therapy” for a battered school: Why did the game, the team’s first in 46 years without Joe Paterno, draw such huge crowds? Simply put, it was a bit of a release after a trying week, despite the discomfort around the game. ”It’s therapy,” said one fan, Dave Young. “I love Penn State football, always will love Penn State football. Tough week, cried in my office a couple times when I had moments to myself. But now it’s time to release and watch the football game and enjoy it.” Penn State lost to Nebraska, 17-14, which, despite a late rally, was not to be.
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