HARRISBURG – A judge will decide if three former top administrators at Penn State University will stand trial on charges that they covered up Jerry Sandusky’s sexual abuse of children.
Former president Graham Spanier, former vice president Gary Schultz and former athletic director Tim Curley are each accused of lying to the grand jury, as it investigated the former assistant football coach. They are also charged with endangerment because prosecutors said their inaction allowed Sandusky to abuse more children. A preliminary hearing started this morning at the Dauphin County Courthouse in Harrisburg. The men are being charged in Dauphin County rather than in Centre County because the grand jury convenes there.
Former assistant football coach Mike McQueary testified first. He recalled several conversations he had with late football coach Joe Paterno. “Old Main screwed up,” said McQueary, quoting Paterno in reference to Sandusky’s abuse.
McQueary testified that Paterno told him not to trust Cynthia Baldwin, the university’s former general counsel. Baldwin testified against Spanier, Schultz and Curley in front of the grand jury in 2011.
Their attorneys have argued in the past that violated attorney-client privilege, because the men believed Baldwin was representing them during their testimony. McQueary continued, saying today that Paterno told him that the university would ‘scapegoat’ him. Six or seven witnesses are expected to be called during the hearing, which could last as many as three days.
Baldwin will not be called to the stand.
WJAC-TV news reporter Gary Sinderson is in Harrisburg covering the proceedings. He will have updates during newscasts and right here on WJACTV.com.
Sandusky was convicted in June of 2012 of molesting 10 young boys. He’s serving a 30-to-60 year prison sentence.
