UPDATE
CONSPIRACY OF SILENCE - GRAHAM SPANIER, TIM CURLEY, GARY SCHULTZ
Endangering the welfare of children
Criminal conspiracy
Obstruction
Perjury
Failure to report child abuse
State Attorney General Linda Kelly is expected to announce today that former Penn State University President Graham Spanier has been charged in relation to the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal, according to sources close to the investigation.
About a month ago, Graham Spanier went on a media blitz - his attorneys held a press conference, he went on several TV shows, and at that time I speculated that he would be charged within the week.
Mr. Spanier spoke out for the first time in late August, heavily criticizing the report commissioned by Penn State and led by former FBI Director Louis Freeh in which Mr. Spanier was said to have known about allegations that Sandusky was seen abusing a boy in a football team locker room on Penn State's campus in 2001 and failed to go to authorities.
The day before Mr. Spanier made those statements to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, attorneys on his defense team characterized the Freeh report as a "blundering and indefensible indictment." Further, they said they didn't believe the state attorney general had a "scintilla of evidence" that could support charges similar to those faced by Mr. Schultz and Penn State athletic director Tim Curley.
Apparently there was a delay - but it appears he will be charged shortly.
A source close to the investigation has said he will be charged with perjury and obstruction of justice. I'm surprised he isn't also charged with failure to report - but considering that charge may be thrown out for Curley and Schultz as well as a result of the statute of limitations, it might make sense.
More to come...as details emerge.
Link to Story
4:58 AM PT: I believe there should be a press conference at noon today where Linda Kelly will make the announcement. Will keep you posted.
6:48 AM PT:
"In addition to the charges against Spanier, who served as Penn State's president for 16 years until he was fired last November, prosecutors have also prepared new charges against former top school officials who have already been indicted, ex-athletic director Tim Curley and ex-vice president Gary Schultz, who oversaw the state police."
http://openchannel.nbcnews.com/...
7:52 AM PT: I believe they will carry it here at noon:
http://pcntv.com/...
8:29 AM PT: Sorry, the previous one required a subscription - I believe centre daily times will carry it as well here:
http://www.centredaily.com/...
8:56 AM PT: One more link just in case - live stream
http://www.ustream.tv/...
My rough notes - haven't even spell checked -
New criminal charges filed against three former top administrators at Penn State University as a result of the ongoing investigation of Jerry Sandusky.
This case is about three powerful and influential men who held positions at the very top of one of the most prestigious universities in the nation – used their positions to conceal and cover up – allowed free use of university facilities and repeatedly obstructed attempts by law enforcement to gather information
Not a mistake
Not an oversight
Not misjudgment
Conspiracy of silence – total disregard for children.
Two of the sexual assaults for which Sandusky was convicted relevant May 3, 1998 reported by victim’s mother to university park police the very next morning.
Victim 6
February 9, 2011, Grad asst football coach mm went to his locker in the laish building Friday night – assaulted young boy in the coaches locker room shower.
Investigation has established that spanier Schultz and curley were informed of both of these incidence and they had knowledge as early as the 1998 incident.
Emails
Hand written notes
Law firm billing records
All three well aware of 1998 involving victim 6 and 2001 incident witnessed by mm. deliberately engaged in a pattern of behavior that showed the absolute disregard – turned a blind eye to the serial predatory acts of jerry Sandusky when they all knew that children were the vicitms of this assult.
Even though they were aware of the strikingly similar 1998 shower incident made no report to law enforcement or any other agency of the 2001 incident.
In fact, did not even meet with McQueary until over a week after
Engaged in a series of emails among themselves – when they did sit down with McQueary they didn’t ask a single question, just listened, all the while knowing about the 1998 incident.
One of the many emails mentioned in the presentment Feb 27, 2001, curley to Schultz and spanier – masking the true meaning of the topic of the email –
Sandusky – individual or person
Second mile organization
1998 investigation the first situation
Most tellingly he refers to the victims as sandusky’s guests
Curley seems to be seeking approval from spanier, I need some help on this one – spanier responds and says that approach was acceptable but they could become vulnerable for not having reported it.
GJ attempts to acquire documents and evidence from Penn State thwarted from 2010 and 2011
These emails and the actions of these three men show callous lack of concern for 2001 who they did not attempt to identify – shielded jerry Sandusky from publicity and criminal access – endangered the welfare of children.
Courageous behavior of the victims
Cowardly acts committed by these three defendants
Consequences – if they had done what they were supposed to do and legally required to do, several young men may not have been attacked and the predator may have been neutralized.
The law applies to everyone.
Arraignment tomorrow in Harrisburg
9:29 AM PT: Link to grand jury presentment
http://www.attorneygeneral.gov/...