Penn State To Reach Out To Sandusky Victim's Lawyers
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (KDKA/AP) — Penn State University wants to "privately, expeditiously and fairly" compensate and address the concerns of victims abused by Jerry Sandusky, and it plans to reach out to their personal injury lawyers soon with more information, the school said in a statement Friday.
A Centre County jury delivered a guilty verdict on 45 of 48 counts against Jerry Sandusky in a child sex abuse trial Friday night. Immediately following the verdict, Sandusky's bond was revoked and he was taken into custody.
The university released the statement after Sandusky's conviction. In it, Penn State praised the victims who testified against Sandusky, who coached at the school from 1969 to 1999 before he retired.
"The university plans to invite victims of Mr. Sandusky's abuse to participate in a program to facilitate the resolution of claims against the university arising out of Mr. Sandusky's conduct," the statement said. "The purpose of the program is simple — the university wants to provide a forum where the university can privately, expeditiously and fairly address the victims' concerns and compensate them for claims" relating to Penn State.
The school also said it has a "steadfast commitment to pursuing the truth regarding" Sandusky's actions and to making its campus safe for children.
"No verdict can undo the pain and suffering caused by Mr. Sandusky, but we do hope this judgment helps the victims and their families along their path to healing," the statement said.
"While we cannot change what happened, we can and do accept the responsibility to take action on the societal issue of child sexual abuse — both in our community and beyond."
The school is in the midst of an investigation by ex-FBI director Louis Freeh who was hired by Penn State's board of trustees to conduct an internal investigation in which 400 people have been interviewed. His report could be released in August.
Penn State also noted that it has a confidential counseling process for Sandusky's victims, and that it wants to "do its part to help victims continue their path forward."
Sandusky faced 48 counts of child sexual abuse after becoming involved with 10 alleged victims – two of which remain unknown to prosecutors.
In the case of unknown Victim 2, the victim identified by Mike McQueary, Sandusky was found not guilty of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, but guilty of indecent assault, unlawful contact with minors and endangering the welfare of a child with regard to victim.
The jury found Sandusky guilty on all the counts related to Victim 8, a boy who has also yet to be identified.
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