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The
current focus on Pennsylvania State University, its football program,
and former coach Joe Paterno will be replaced by a more pervasive sexual
assault scandal in the coming days and weeks. At-risk children and
their often disadvantaged single parents were delivered up to a
relentless sexual predator with exhibitionist tendencies as described in
the findings of a special Commonwealth of Pennsylvania grand jury. (Image: from video)
The relentless deviate, former PSU defensive coordinator, Jerry Sandusky, is accused of sexually assaulting children for years. According to the grand jury, he gained easy access to children and early adolescents through a foundation he founded in 1977, the Second Mile Foundation. He continued the assaults at his home and in the PSU showers on at least one occasion. The foundation serves over 100,000 at-risk youth. Sandusky started the foundation as a group home for "troubled boys" in 1977. Since hiring Jack Raykovitz, PhD, a licensed psychologist, as president, the foundation has grown into a multimillion enterprise serving over 100,000 children throughout the state.
A picture of alleged serial abuser Sandusky came into clear focus in the Pennsylvania Statewide Investigating Grand Jury release of findings about victims 1 through 8. Sandusky selected the eight boys from the population of those served by the Second Mile Foundation, it is alleged. He would start with mentoring, move onto hosting the boys for overnights in a bedroom at his home, and initiate oral copulation and anal sex, according to the grand jury report.
A critical fact listed in by the grand jury concerns the legal counsel for both the foundation and PSU. Wendell Courtney was the legal counsel for both PSU and the Second Mile Foundation during the period covering 1998 through the end of 2009. Courtney served as PSU's primary legal counsel as a member of the law firm of McQuaide-Blasko. In January 2010, PSU hired a full time, in house counsel. During Courtney's service to the organizations, Second Mile founder, PSU coach (in 1998), and PSU coach emeritus (in 2002) Sandusky was twice investigated on charges of sexual assault. Neither investigation resulted in either organization terminating Sandusky's employment or access to facilities.
Where is the Sexual Assault Scandal Headed?
Penn State Scandal: Jerry Sandusky Rumored To Have 'Pimped' Boys To Donors: REPORT Huffington Post headline, November 10
This is a remarkable headline since it features rumors of incomplete investigations by unidentified reporters. The story that HuffPost says should break soon concerns Sandusky's Second Mile Foundation and its donors. There were other reports concerning this new direction of the story.
The foundation raises millions of dollars a year from corporate and individual donors in Pennsylvania for the most part. Funds support educational and "leadership" programs and retreats for at-risk youth throughout the state.
The 2010 foundation annual report features a county map of Pennsylvania with total individuals serviced by county. For some reason, the totals are about even for individuals served in Allegheny County, population 1.2 million, and Centre County, population, 153,000 (and home of PSU).
Was Jerry Sandusky procuring at-risk youth for foundation donors as suggested in the headline? If so which donors? Where and when did this happen?
PSU summarily fired the university president, senior executives, and Joe Paterno this week. As of today, long time Second Mile president, Jack Raykovitz, PhD, retains his position as foundation president. The members of the Honorary Board of Trustees, a list of Pennsylvania notables, are in the uncomfortable position of endorsing a tarnished foundation. Major donors listed in the annual report are seen as offering public financial support for a foundation that remains passive despite the clear need for organizational change.
What about Victims 1 through 8 (and more)?
We have no way of knowing the level of help received by the reported Sandusky victims reviewed by the statewide grand jury. Any delays to much needed evaluation and treatment is a true shame.
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