Paterno Issues Statement On Sexual Abuse Case
PITTSBURGH (KDKA/AP) -- In the wake of the arrest of his former defensive coordinator on charges of sexual abuse this weekend, Penn State head football coach Joe Paterno released a statement late Sunday afternoon.
Jerry Sandusky, 67, was arrested Saturday on 40 counts in connection with a grand jury investigation that has been ongoing for nearly three years.
In the statement, Paterno said: "If true, the nature and amount of charges made are very shocking to me and all Penn Staters."
Also facing perjury charges in connection with case are two current Penn State officials – Athletic Director Tim Curley and Vice President for Business and Finance Gary Schultz.
In his statement, Paterno also references his grand jury testimony in which he testified that back in 2002 he was informed by an assistant coach that he had witnessed an incident in the shower of the team locker room. Prosecutors have said Paterno passed on the information to Curley.
However, Paterno said specific actions alleged to have occurred in the grand jury report were not relayed to him.
Paterno went on in his statement: "It was obvious that the witness was distraught over what he saw, but he at no time related to me the very specific actions contained in the grand jury report. Regardless, it was clear that the witness saw something inappropriate involving Mr. Sandusky. As Coach Sandusky was retired from our coaching staff at that time, I referred the matter to university administrators."
Click here to read the statement in full.
RELATED LINKS:
Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office
Penn State Nittany Lions
CBSSports.com: "JoePa: Shocked, saddened by sex abuse charges"
Retired PSU Coach Arrested On 40 Counts
Retired Coach Banned From PSU Campus
More News from Penn State
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