Penn State's Curley, Schultz Arraigned On Perjury Charges
HARRISBURG (KDKA) -- A child sex scandal is rocking Penn State University.
Two high-ranking university officials were arraigned and have stepped down amid the allegations of a cover-up.
The school's former football defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky was arrested over the weekend and charged with sexually abusing eight boys over 15 years.
The magistrate's office in Lower Paxton Township, Dauphin County, was packed as more than 20 cameras tried to capture Penn State Athletic Director Tim Curley and financial officer Gary Schultz when they were arraigned on perjury charges.
- Read The Entire Grand Jury Presentment (WARNING: Contains Graphic Material)
- Watch The Attorney General's Full Press Conference
Their arraignment followed a news conference during which the state Attorney General said they should have reported what they knew to law enforcement. Both sides disagreed about that and the perjury charge.
"One of the basic principles of our legal system is that witnesses are required under the law to tell the truth when they're called before a grand jury," Attorney General Linda Kelly said.
"The truth – pure and simple, nothing more, nothing less and that principle applies to everyone from the ordinary man on the street to as well as to those who occupy positions of power and influence – men like the defendants in this case," she added.
The AG says the administrators should have reported what they knew to law enforcement.
State Police Commissioner Frank Noonan, who was involved in the investigation when he worked for the attorney general, was adamant about reports that a little boy was sexually assaulted on campus.
"And then in 2002 the graduate assistant saw another sex act being committed in the locker room, in the shower by Jerry Sandusky," Noonan said. "He did report it, but nothing happened. Nothing stopped and that's very unusual. I don't think I've ever been associated with a case where that type of eyewitness identification of sex acts taking place where police weren't called."
"They did what they were supposed to do under the statute," Tom Farrell, Schltz' attorney, said. "They reported these allegations to their boss, the president of Penn State University, as well as the executive director of the Second Mile."
"Perjury is the prosecutor's charge of last resort," Defense Attorney Caroline Roberto said. "They charge it when they can't prove that the person did anything wrong. In this case, the facts occurred in 2002 and they're trying to charge Mr. Curley with perjury for something he said nine years later."
"It is a distraction," Roberto continued.
"And it is unconscionable that the attorney general's office would level such a weak case against a man of integrity," she said.
Meantime, two of the eight victims are unknown to prosecutors and they're hoping that more people will come forward and tell them more about the case.
"Today we encourage that person, who is now likely to be a young adult, to contact investigators from the Attorney General's Office at 814-863-1053, or Pennsylvania State Police at 814-470-2238," Kelly said. "We also encourage anyone else who has any information related to this case to please contact those same numbers."
"This is an ongoing and active investigation and Commissioner Noonan and I have made it clear to everyone at both of our agencies that we are determined to quickly respond to any new witnesses or additional information that may appear."
Noon urged the alleged victims to come forward.
"Child sexual abuse is a serious crime and I assure you, the PA State Police will listen. If you or someone you know is a victim of sexual abuise, I leave you with three words: Nine - One - One."
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