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Penn State Scandal: Jerry Sandusky Accusers To Sue The Second Mile Charity

One of the accusers of former Penn State Nittany Lions assistant coach Jerry Sandusky has filed court papers seeking an injunction against The Second Mile, the charity Sandusky started in 1977, to prevent the charity "from transferring or divesting its assets," reports Bill Pennington of the New York Times. The lawyers for the victim in question--known as Victim 4--filed the papers "to ensure that the organization is being financially responsible."

Sandusky is charged with sexually assaulting eight young men over an 11-year span. He ended his 30-year career as an assistant coach to Joe Paterno in 1999 and received professor emeritus status. Some of the alleged encounters took place on Penn State property.

The injunction, filed by Benjamin Andreozzi and Jeffrey Fritz, who represent several victims of Sandusky's alleged crimes, specifically asks that the charity's assets “not be dissipated, encumbered or in any way obligated or disturbed in any form and should be available to victims of sexual abuse." The lawyers contend The Second Mile is partially responsible for Sandusky's alleged crimes for not reporting allegations of sexual abuse to the police upon learning of them.

The Sandusky scandal rocked Penn State, costing university president Graham Spanier and coach Paterno their jobs, and resulting in wide receivers coach Mike McQueary being placed on administrative leave. Grand jury testimony revealed McQueary witnessed Sandusky raping a child in a Penn State shower facility. McQueary reported the incident to Paterno, but did not notify the authorities.

Photographs by dizfunk used in background montage under Creative Commons. Thank you.