Former Pennsylvania State University President Graham Spanier received a minimum sentence of two months in jail, followed by two months of house arrest on Friday, after failing to report a 2001 allegation that the university’s ex-assistant football coach, Jerry Sandusky, had sexually abused a young boy, The Atlantic reports.
Despite pleading not guilty, Spanier was convicted of child endangerment, a misdemeanor, on March 24, with the maximum sentence he could serve being 12 months.
Spanier’s colleagues, former Penn State Athletic Director Tim Curley and former Senior Vice President for Finance and Business Gary Schultz, received the same conviction on Friday after accepting a plea deal on March 13. Both Schultz and Curley could serve a maximum sentence of 23 months, with Schultz serving at least two months in jail and Curley serving at least three.Like Spanier, both men could serve an additional sentence on house arrest.
The latest sentencing marks the end of a lengthy court process, beginning in 2012 when an external investigation concluded that the three administrators had concealed Sandusky’s abuse from authorities, the Penn State Board of Trustees, and the university community.
According to the court’s sentencing memorandum, Spanier was “presented with information about Jerry Sandusky’s bad behavior in 1998 and again in February 2001,” but feared the incident might damage his reputation.
“Spanier needs to be punished for choosing to protect his personal reputation and that of the university instead of the welfare of children,” the sentencing reads, adding that “Spanier has shown a stunning lack of remorse for his victims.” State prosecutor Laura Ditka also called Spanier “a complete and utter failure as a leader when it mattered most.”
While Spanier expressed his deep regret that he “didn’t intervene more forcefully” in 2001, his sentencing argued that “remorse without taking accountability is not remorse.”
Both Curley and Schultz also shared their regret at Friday’s sentencing. “I am very remorseful I did not comprehend the severity of the situation,” Curley said. “I sincerely apologize to the victims and to all who were impacted because of my mistake. It really sickens me to think I might have played a part in children being hurt. I’m sorry that I didn’t do more, and I apologize to the victims”, Schultz added.
Meanwhile Sandusky continues to maintain his innocence. He is currently appealing a 30 to 60-year prison sentence after being convicted in 2012 of sexually abusing ten boys. At least four of the victims said they were molested after 2001, leading the court to argue that negligence on behalf of Curley, Spanier, and Schultz allowed Sandusky to continue with his abusive behavior toward the boys.
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