After twenty-one hours of deliberation the jury in the Jerry Sandusky trial found Sandusky guilty on forty-five of the remaining forty-eight counts against him. His sentencing could be over four hundred years. These guilty verdicts prove that the jury rejected the defense’s claim that the victims were lying to win money in a civil suit.

The biggest fear for the victims and their families was that Sandusky would be found innocent, according to ABC News.

Victim 1′s mother stated, “it was very hard on [my son]. Even after therapy, he doesn’t feel comfortable saying what happened to him to me.” Victim 1 was the first to come forward in this recent investigation of Sandusky. Another investigation began in 1998 but was later dropped.

The mother of Victim 1 said that her son has been seeking out counseling at the foundation “Let Go…Let Peace Come In.” According to the director of the foundation, Peter Pelullo, “what people don’t really understand is when we’re touched like that as a child… part of our brain just shuts down and we need mental help and care to connect those brain stems, which were completely burned out.”

Sandusky was found guilty of forty-five of forty-eight child molestation related charges. Originally he was charged with fifty-two but one was withdrawn by the prosecution and three were dismissed by the judge. The charges range over ten victims and fifteen years.

The jury seems to have been unconvinced by the testimony of Dottie Sandusky. She appeared as a loving and loyal wife but refused to admit that the abuse was going on.

Sandusky’s lawyers claim that they will try to appeal the verdict citing several different reasons as grounds. The defense lawyers tried to have themselves removed from the Sandusky case at one point and also claimed that they did not have enough time to prepare their case. Perhaps the only grounds that would be considered by the courts is a tape that was misleadingly edited by NBC; however, ABC News claims the video will most likely be called a harmless error.

Juror Joshua Harper stated after the trial, “I looked at him during the reading of the verdict, and the look on his face, no real emotion, just kind of accepting, you know, because he knew it was true.” After the trial the jurors heard that Matt Sandusky had come forward during their deliberations to say that he was also a victim of his adoptive father. Harper stated, “we were all basically told at the same time, we heard about it at the same time, and we were just looking at each other like we had suspected that but we had no evidence of it. It just solidified our decision.”

Now that Sandusky has been found guilty it is likely that Penn State, The Second Mile, and Sandusky will be sued by the victims and their families. During the case it was revealed that Head Coach Joe Paterno as well as Vice President Schultz at Penn State knew about Sandusky’s crimes. The only action Penn State took was to take away Sandusky’s keys to the locker room and to tell his foundation The Second Mile; no one called law enforcement.

Image Courtesy of   marsmet551

The article Sandusky Found Guilty, Defense Plans Appeal appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

The jury selection began 5 June 2012 for the trial of ex-assistant football coach at Pennsylvania State University, Jerry Sandusky. Sandusky, age 68, is charged with fifty-two counts of sexual abuse of ten boys over a fifteen year period. Sandusky has admitted to showering with some of the young boys but has denied allegations of sexual abuse.

Sandusky was arrested in November of 2010, which threw the Penn State community into chaos. Riots began after Sandusky, Head Coach Paterno, and president of the university, Graham Spanier, were fired. Paterno and Spanier were both fired due to their attempts to try cover up the allegations. Riots broke out in protest of the firing of the head coach, as Penn State has a history of dedicated and proud fans.

Mike McQueary, another Penn State assistant coach who is currently on leave from the team, claims that he saw Sandusky naked in a team shower with a young boy in 2002. McQueary reportedly told head coach Paterno and athletic direct Tim Curley but no one told the police. Paterno died of lung cancer in January 2012, but Curley has since been charged with perjury and failing to report a crime along with senior vice president of finance and business at Penn State Gary Schultz.

The judge has denied appeals by the defense to delay the trial but he also required that the trial remain in the Penn State area, making it difficult to find jurors who are not connected to the Penn State football team or to Sandusky’s charity, Second Mile. One middle-aged woman who has been selected as a juror was a season ticket holder to the Penn State football team; some wonder how this will color her perceptions of the case.

The judge has also declared that Twitter and email reporting from the courtroom will not be allowed. Additionally, the judge has rejected allowing the ten boys to use pseudonyms meaning that they must use their real names at trial. One lawyer for one of the victims claimed, “it’s almost as if [the victim is] being branded with a scarlet letter.” However the judge claimed, “secrecy is thought to be inconsistent with the openness required to assure the public that the law is being administered fairly and applied faithfully.”

Since Sandusky’s arrest in November even more victims have come forward. Many of these victims met Sandusky through his Second Mile Foundation – created in 1977 – a charity for at-risk children.

According to a recently released report, in 1998 a psychologist, Alycia Chambers, told police that Sandusky was likely a pedophile. Chambers was involved in the investigation of a case in 1998 when a mother alleged that Sandusky had showered with her son. No arrests were made at the time although the mother did confront Sandusky who reportedly stated, “I wish I could get forgiveness. I know I won’t get it from you. I wish I were dead.”

The article Jury Selection Begins for Sandusky Sexual Abuse Trial appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

As the national news media continues to focus on the Sandusky and Syracuse child abuse allegations, a coalition of national experts applauded a bill introduced this week by U.S. Senators.

John Kerry (D-MA) and Susan Collins (R-ME) and U.S. Representatives Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) and Joseph Crowley (D-NY), who were joined by ten members of the House Ways and Means Committee, proposed a bill that could make a significant impact towards reducing fatalities resulting from child abuse and neglect, and make improvements throughout the child welfare system.

More than seven children die from abuse and neglect every day in America – some 2,500 a year – reflecting the estimated 50 percent undercounting in the officially estimated figure of 1,560. A child is abused or neglected every 36 seconds in the United States, yet only 40 percent of abused children with substantiated cases receive services, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Representatives of the National Coalition to End Child Abuse Deaths (NCECAD) expressed concern that the current national media attention being paid to the Sandusky and Syracuse child abuse allegations would not create the needed additional pressure on Congress to deal with wider child death and abuse problems.

Such focused attention on specific abuse cases often obscures the need for wider attention to the problem, according to the NCECAD experts. Pointing to the need for multi-faced solutions, NCECAD members applauded the recently introduced Protect Our Kids Act, which would establish a commission to study and evaluate federal, state, and local public and private child welfare systems.

Protect Our Kids would also develop a national strategy and recommendations for preventing child abuse and reducing fatalities resulting from child abuse and neglect.  The full text of the legislation is available online at www.endchildabusedeaths.org.

Kimberly Day, spokesperson for the National Coalition to End Child Abuse Deaths, said:  ”It is important that the media is covering the most recent high profile and horrific child sexual abuse cases, but it is also important that the public understand that what they are hearing is only part of a larger problem of child abuse and neglect in the United States.

The proposed bill will provide a national strategy for improving our child protection system by recommending practices that protect children and prevent abuse and neglect”. ”This legislation in an important step that Congress and our nation need to take in order to better protect our children from abuse and neglect,” said Senator Collins.

“This is not a Democratic or Republican issue – this is an American issue – one that we can’t wish away, but that we must face head on and work to eradicate. Our legislation would establish a commission to develop a comprehensive national strategy for reducing child abuse fatalities.  An increased understanding and awareness of child abuse and neglect can lead to improvement in agency systems and practices and help prevent future child abuse fatalities.”

Rep. Doggett, ranking member of the Human Resources Subcommittee, which has jurisdiction over this issue stated, ”Addressing this ongoing tragedy requires a better understanding of the causes of abuse and neglect and a determination of the most effective steps to prevent maltreatment. This bipartisan commission offers a way to develop a more coordinated, national response.”

“As a father to three young kids, it breaks my heart to hear the thousands of stories of children suffering from abuse or neglect every day. What’s worse is the alarming number of children who die each year from mistreatment. The simple fact is, even one child’s death from abuse, neglect or maltreatment is one too many,” said Rep. Crowley.

“This is an issue of grave concern and one that deserves a national focus. That’s why I’m proud to fight alongside tireless advocates like the National Coalition to End Child Abuse Deaths, and I am glad to have worked with them and my colleagues in creating legislation that will help determine how we as a nation can better protect our children.”

The article After Sandusky Case New Bill to Reduce Child Abuse Deaths appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

After a dramatic week behind the scenes inside the football team, Penn State was unable to come up with a home victory against Nebraska, losing 17-14. The Cornhuskers’ running game carried the team to victory with Rex Burkhead and Ameer Abdullah rushing for a total of 127 yards and two touchdowns.

Quarterback Taylor Martinez helped get the ball down the field, throwing for 144 yards on 13 catches with no interceptions. Penn State running back Stephfon Green got the only two touchdowns for his team, while quarterback Matt McGloin moved the ball downfield 192 yards on 16 catches.

With no offensive action in the first quarter, the Cornhuskers were the first to make a change on the scoreboard with a 41-yard field goal by Brett Maher five minutes into the second quarter, and a 2-yard rushing touchdown from Ameer Abdullah in the final minute of the half.

Nebraska scored yet again in the early minutes of the third quarter with Rex Burkhead rushing 14 yards for a touchdown, making the score 17-0. However, Penn state showed signs of life later on in the third quarter with Stephfon Green running five yards for a touchdown that brought them ten points away from the lead going into the final quarter.

After several pushes for more points, the Nittany Lions were able to bring themselves three points away from tying up the game with Green rushing for another touchdown late in the fourth quarter.

Penn State was able to get the ball back in the final minute of the game.  However, in the final seconds and after several Hail Mary attempts, the Nittany Lions were unable to get the ball down the field to get the final points that they needed. In the end, Nebraska won the game 17-14.

This game was the first Penn State has played since the firing of their head coach, Joe Paterno, who had been coaching the Nittany Lions since 1966. He holds the record for the most Division 1-A wins with 409 and the most bowl wins with 24 in his career. The Nebraska Cornhuskers (8-2) travel to face the Michigan Wolverines next Saturday, while the Penn State Nittany Lions (8-2) travel to face Ohio State.

Image Courtesy of  http://www.facebook.com/pennstate

The article Penn State Falls Short in First Game Without Paterno appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

Throughout this entire scandal from the outset up until the recent firing of Penn State football head coach Joe Paterno, Paterno has done nothing aside from showing the arrogance, stubbornness, and selfishness that most people thought they’d never see from the beloved man who Penn State fans call “JoePa.”

Just as he failed to act 10 years ago when information was brought to him in regards to the atrocities that Jerry Sandusky was committing in the Penn State football complex, he has again failed to help the situation again.

As more and more people read over the pages of grand jury testimony and absorb and dissect the information, Paterno managed to take the spotlight away from the victims, the children who endured the abuse and have since been dealing with it, and put it on himself and the storied football program.

Failing to really comment, other than saying he was “absolutely devastated” by the case and that his heart went out to the victims, Paterno has made this about the school and football, continuing to do things his way much like he has done for the past 46 years as a larger than life football coach.

While Sandusky is the alleged criminal here, and will be punished by law, if found guilty of the 40 counts of felony sex abuse against minors, Paterno is and should be held to a much higher standard though “legally” he did nothing wrong.

No matter how you look at it, there is no defense for a man, or any of the people who were in positions of power, that had the chance to step in and stop Sandusky and turned a blind eye.

When Mike McQueary told Paterno of the incident in which he witnessed Sandusky performing anal sex in a shower on a 10 year old boy, all he did was pass the information on to next person up the chain.

While this is legally all he had to do, we are talking about Joe Paterno, the face of Penn State football for over half a century. The man who has a library named after him and has enough clout and power to do virtually anything he wants in Happy Valley.

He says he was unaware of the details of the situation recalling that McQueary “vaguely’ referenced “fondling” or “touching” by Sandusky and the boy and not fully understanding that McQueary saw a rape being committed, but why didn’t he follow up? Why would he just pass the information up the line about something that happened in the Penn State football complex involving his defensive coordinator and heir to be?

How can a man who has been known as a great man of character and shaper of young people just never give a second thought to an allegation such as this? He didn’t even question the fact that a grown man and a small child were alone in a shower together, he just went on with his business preparing for the next game.

He was too worried about his own reputation, the reputation of the school, and the school’s football team. Instead of being the man of character he was viewed as and taking responsibility he simply ran away from it much like Mike McQueary ran away from the scene that night to call his father instead of stepping in to stop Sandusky or calling the police.

Apparently to Joe Paterno, Penn State and the Paterno name were more important the lives of children who are now forever scarred and will now be known as Victim 1 and Victim 2. According to the testimony at least four eyewitnesses saw Sandusky committing inappropriate acts with children and yet Paterno knew nothing about it.

He knew nothing when Sandusky, a promising coach, retired in the prime of his career, but was kept as a consultant. He knew nothing when Sandusky was told he couldn’t bring children with him to the campus.

In spite of all this information, Joe Paterno still had the chance to take the moral high ground in the eyes of the media and the country by admitting his enormous failure and resigning from his position as head coach. He chose to do neither, but instead announced his plan to retire, at the end of the season.

That was another slap in the face of the victims and their families and showed that he’s bigger than the university and everyone involved with it and will do things on his terms. Just as he did ten years ago he planned to just pay no attention to everything going on and prepare for the next game like it was any other week.

Paterno has said that if it’s all true than Sandusky fooled everyone, but that can’t be true because Paterno was told face to face in 2002 point blank by someone who witnessed it and he stood idly by too worried about what would happen to the program and his legacy.

While nothing can be taken away from his successful career as a coach and what he has done for the university, what was once a great legacy of the man who was the face of Nittany Lion football for so long will now be remembered as a stubborn, selfish old man who was more worried about his own life than saving the lives of children who never got a chance to live theirs.

The article Joe Paterno’s Arrogance Will Damage His Legacy appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

The Penn State trustees fired university president Graham Spanier and football coach Joe Paterno due to the growing anger with how the school has dealt with the allegations of sex abuse against former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky.

The trustees met and decided to clean house Wednesday night after Paterno made the announcement earlier that he was planning to retire after 46 years at the end of the season.

The board couldn’t look the other way after the chorus of disapproval that was heard round the country following Sandusky’s arrest on molestation charges.

“The university is much larger than its athletic teams,” board vice chair John Surma said during a news conference.

“The Penn State board of trustees tonight decided it is in the best interest of the university to have a change in leadership to deal with the difficult issues that we are facing,” Surma said.

“The past several days have been absolutely terrible for the entire Penn State community. But the outrage that we feel is nothing compared to the physical and psychological suffering that allegedly took place.”

Defensive coordinator Tom Bradley has been named the interim coach and provost Rodney Erickson interim school president.

Paterno expressed disappointment with the decision, but accepted it and urged people to remain calm.

“A tragedy occurred, and we all have to have patience to let the legal process proceed,” Paterno said in a statement late Wednesday night. “I appreciate the outpouring of support but want to emphasize that everyone should remain calm and please respect the university, its property and all that we value.

“I have been incredibly blessed to spend my entire career working with people I love. I am grateful beyond words to all of the coaches, players and staff who have been a part of this program. And to all of our fans and supporters, my family and I will be forever in your debt.”

A source told ESPN’s Joe Schad that Paterno received and envelope at his home Wednesday night before the board made their announcement, and that it contained a paper with a number to call. Paterno called and a board member told him “you are relieved of your duties.”

Paterno has had a hard time grasping the scope of the allegations being brought against Sandusky.

People have been asking since the scandal began why Paterno as well as other top Penn State school officials didn’t notify the police in 2002 when Mike McQueary, who was a graduate assistant at the time and is now the wide receivers coach for the football team, told them that he saw Sandusky assaulting a boy in the school shower one night.

Paterno, who has wanted to speak to clarify some things, but had his weekly press conference cancelled by the school, will do so possibly as soon as Thursday. Paterno while saying he should have done more recalls McQuearly “vaguely” making references to “fondling” or “touching” by Sandusky and a young boy, but never understood that McQueary had witnessed a “rape.”

On Wednesday Paterno said in a statement that he was “absolutely devasted” by the case in which Sandusky was charged with molesting eight boys in a span of 15 years. Some of the alleged abuse was said to have taken place at the football complex.

Paterno’s firing ends one of the greatest coaching careers seen in sports. In his 46 year tenure as head coach of Penn State, Paterno has won 409 games, 2 national titles, and coached 5 teams to undefeated seasons. He’s also the fastest coach to reach 300 wins.

Penn State is currently ranked 12^th in the BCS and the AP poll sitting at 8-1 losing to Alabama. They play 19^th ranked Nebraska this weekend, at Ohio State, and at 18^th ranked Wisconsin looking to secure a bowl bid.

In a statement, Paterno said: “I grieve for the children and their families, and I pray for their comfort and relief..I have come to work every day for the last 61 years with one clear goal in mind: To serve the best interests of this university and the young men who have been entrusted to my care. I have the same goal today.”

Penn State now looks to move forward and put this scandal behind them and the firing of the great “JoePa” is the first step in that direction.

The article Penn State Fires Joe Paterno appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.