Two Penn State officials pleaded guilty Monday in a child endangerment case tied to Jerry Sandusky’s child abuse scandal, and could face up to five years in prison.
Former Penn State officials ex-athletic director Tim Curley and ex-vice president Gary Schultz, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor child endangerment and face as many as five years in jail under a plea deal laid out by prosecutors who dropped three other felony charges.
The plea comes just days before jury selection in the trial of Penn State’s former president, Graham Spanier, for his connection to the Sandusky scandal. Spanier, 68, has been charged with helping cover up a 2001 sexual abuse claim reported by then-graduate assistant Mike McQueary.
McQueary, whose testimony helped convict Sandusky in 2012, relayed the incident to Joe Paterno, the head coach of the football program for many years. Paterno then went to Curley and Schultz to inform them about McQueary’s claims, but no action was taken.
Since the three administrators failed to act on the claims, authorities believe they enabled Sandusky to continue his habit of child abuse.
Sandusky, who both played and coached at Penn State, remained close to the football program and university after he retired in 1999.
His actions were brought to light in 2011, and he was arrested and convicted the following year on 45 counts involving the abuse of 10 boys. As a result, Sandusky was sentenced to 30 to 60 years in prison.
Sandusky’s scandal tarnished Paterno’s legacy as a beloved member of Penn State’s football community. Paterno, who never faced criminal charges, died a few months after being fired in 2011.
The scandal has cost the university nearly a quarter billion dollars: Penn State settled out of court with more 30 people regarding sexual abuse allegations involving Sandusky paying those individuals a total of $93 million, and the NCAA slapped Penn State with a $48 million penalty.
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