Jerry Sandusky’s trial may be over as the former Penn State football coach currently serves the first of his 30 to 60 years in prison, but the ordeal is only just beginning for three other Penn State officials.
Former Penn State university president Graham Spanier, retired university vice president Gary Schultz, and ex-athletic director Tim Curley have all been ordered to stand trial. The trio will contest allegations that they covered up Sandusky’s actions despite hearing reports that the coach abused boys.
The main incident that triggered the charges took place in 2001, when former assistant coach Mike McQueary reported that he witnessed Sandusky molesting a boy in a shower. Spanier, Schultz, and Curley decided to confront Sandusky themselves instead of turning the coach over to authorities.
Email correspondences between the three demonstrated their awareness that the allegations against Sandusky needed to be addressed or the university would become vulnerable. Spanier has denied any knowledge of the shower incident, countering accusations levied against him.
Curley and Schultz were charged in 2011 and Spanier in 2012. Now, almost a year after Sandusky was put behind bars, the three are set to face a judge in a few months.