Just when you think you've seen everything in life, something pops up like former Penn State defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky being officially charged with sexual assault on young boys, and you find yourself totally at a loss for words.
The more I hear about what went down at State College over the course of about ten or fifteen years, the more disturbing it becomes.
There were at least eight incidents of Sandusky molesting young boys who were part of The Second Mile foundation that the former coach started back in 1977. The assaults allegedly occurred between 1994 and 2008.
At least three different adults apparently saw Sandusky commit various sexual assaults over the course of about six or seven years.
A PSU janitor reportedly witnessed Sandusky and a young boy engaged in a sexual act back in 2000. The janitor went to his superior, but there was no follow-up.
In 2002, Penn State assistant coach Mike Mcqueary said he witnessed Sandusky having a sexual encounter with a young boy in a shower and reported it to head coach Joe Paterno. Paterno then took the matter to Penn State AD Tim Curley, and Curely said he reported the incident to Penn State president Graham Spanier.
In 2006 or 2007, a school wrestling coach said he walked in on Sandusky and a young boy lying side by side on mats and touching one another inappropriately.
People have spent the past few days questioning why authorities weren't immediately contacted when these incidents were witnessed, and rightfully so, but my question is why didn't any of these people who said they witnessed these sexual assaults immediately step in and stop Sandusky? The janitor and Mcqueary were supposedly worried about losing their jobs if they took appropriate actions. Who cares?
The janitor and Mcqueary were both beside themselves when they witnessed what they saw, but even if you're totally stunned by something, you should be able to gather yourself and act. In fact, I believe there really shouldn't be any thought involved; it should almost be an instinct.
If I see someone trip and start to fall, I don't think, "hmmm, my back is bothering me, I have a bum shoulder, should I try to stop this person from falling?" No, I just instinctively reach out and try and grab the person to keep them safe.
The same thing should have happened in these awful occurrences.
I mean, I can't imagine witnessing any crime worse than a child getting molested.If you see something like that taking place, you throw caution to the wind and try to do something. It's up to the adults of the world to protect children whether we're directly associated with them or not.
Mcqueary, Paterno, Tim Curely, former university vice president Gary Schultz, and school president Graham Spanier are all on the hot seat for not taking the appropriate actions in reporting these assaults.
Curely and Schultz have both been charged with perjury and failure to report the abuse of children.
Paterno and Mcqueary aren't in any legal hot water, but people have been calling for both to step down, especially Paterno, who has been the Nittany Lions' head coach for the past 46 seasons.
All these people who are in hot water for not doing enough when they heard of these incidents have said they went through the proper channels by reporting it to their immediate supervisors. Well, maybe that's true, but didn't anyone think it would be a good idea to go directly to the police?
Speaking of that, according to what I've researched, there was an investigation by a university detective back in 1998, and Sandusky even admitted to some inappropriate behavior with young boys. But for whatever awful reason, no charges were filed and the case was closed.
In a Post Gazette story I read today regarding this whole mess, Pennsylvania state police commissioner Frank Noonan said it best: "I don't think I've ever been associated with a case with this type of eyewitness identification of sex acts taking place where the police weren't called."
So far, eight victims have come forward, and I just heard on the radio that a ninth victim spoke out today.
Don't be surprised if many more people start to come out of the woodwork. As I said, Sandusky founded The Second Mile foundation all the way back in 1977. Only a fool would believe that he started molesting young boys in 1994; a person just doesn't wake up one day and start to engage in that kind of behavior, Lord only knows how long this went on.
As far as I'm concerned, this is one of the worst cases of a cover up that I've ever seen. The Powers That Were at Penn State were obviously more concerned with protecting their cash cow than they were with protecting innocent children.
I don't know if the NCAA can step in and penalize the Penn State football program for this, but maybe they should seriously consider it. There is no excuse for trying to cover up these kinds of deviant acts on young children.
As for Sandusky, the DA filed 40 charges against him. I know in America, you're innocent until proven guilty, but no prosecutor is going to file that many charges against a person if they don't think they have a strong case.
Jerry Sandusky should spend the rest of his days in prison. He's the worst kind of human being.
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