Abuse victim: Paterno ignored '76 Sandusky complaint (2024)

HARRISBURG— A man who says former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky sexually abused him as a boy in 1976 testified in court documents unsealed Tuesday that head coach JoePaternowas told about it the very next day and responded callously.

Abuse victim: Paterno ignored '76 Sandusky complaint (1)

The man identified as John Doe 150 said in 2014 that other boys in a shower heard him yell that Sandusky had just touched him sexually.

He said he told several adults about it, then sought outPaterno.

"Is it accurate that CoachPaternoquickly said to you, I don't want to hear about any of that kind of stuff, I have a football season to worry about?" a lawyer for Penn State's insurance carrier asked the man. "Specifically, yes," the man replied.

"I was shocked, disappointed, offended, I was insulted," John Doe 150 testified. "I said, is that all you're going to do? You're not going to do anything else?"

He saidPaternothen "just walked away."

Dozens of documents and excerpts were released Tuesdayby a judge who is presiding over litigation by Penn State against Pennsylvania Manufacturers' Association Insurance Co. over payment of claims for abuse by Sandusky, who is now serving decades in state prison for child molestation.

Penn State settlements covered 1971 Sandusky abuse claim

The judge two months ago disclosed the existence of the 1976 allegation, along with claims coaches witnessed inappropriate contact between Sandusky and children in the '80s, but the newly unsealed documents provide far greater detail.

Paternotold a reporter before he died in early 2012 — just months after Sandusky's arrest — that the first inkling he had that Sandusky might be abusing children occurred in 2001, though there are records that show high-ranking Penn State officials dealt with a complaint in 1998 by a mother that Sandusky had showered with her son.

A lawyer forPaterno'sfamily issued a statement Tuesday claiming there is evidence that "stands in stark contrast" to John Doe 150's story.

The lawyer, Wick Sollers, said, "There are numerous specific elements of the accusations that defy all logic and have never been subjected to even the most basic objective examination."

Sandusky's lawyer has also denied the allegation.

Child abuse and neglect cases skyrocket; help needed

Paternotold a grand jury in 2011 that he first learned in 2001 of inappropriate sexual contact by Sandusky involving boys.

"I do not know of anything else that Jerry would be involved in of that nature, no. I do not know of it. You did mention — I think you said something about a rumor. It may have been discussed in my presence, something else about somebody. I don't know. I don't remember, and I could not honestly say I heard a rumor,"Paternotestified.

Mike McQueary, a former assistant who reported toPaternothe 2001 incident in a team shower and who testified against Sandusky at trial, said in a 2015 deposition that former defensive coordinator Tom Bradley was "not shocked" when told of it, according to the newly unsealed documents.

Bradley, who briefly took over as head coach afterPaterno'sfiring, "said he knew of some things" about Sandusky dating to the 1980s, McQueary testified.

What's wrong with Penn State's recruiting?

A lawyer for Bradley, now a coach at UCLA, said they're reviewing the court documents.

McQueary said Bradley told him that he'd been approached by someone in the '80s who saw Sandusky "doing something to a boy" and that in the '90s, former assistant coach Greg Schiano saw Sandusky in the shower with a boy.

"Greg had come into his office white as a ghost and said he just saw Jerry doing something to a boy in the shower," McQueary testified.

Schiano is now the defensive coordinator at Ohio State. He didn't reply to an email seeking comment.

The newly unsealed documents also provide additional information about encounters in 1987 and 1988 that accusers claim were witnessed by coaching staff.

A man called John Doe 75 said in a 2014 deposition that in 1987, assistant football coach Joe Sarra walked into a coaches' meeting room to see Sandusky with his hands down the then-13-year-old boy's shorts.

He said Sarra may have said something like, "oh, sorry," and immediately walked out, after which Sandusky kissed him on the forehead. Sarra died four years ago.

A 2014 deposition by a man called John Doe 101 said that Sandusky fondled him inside a crowded Penn State pool and that coaches often saw the boy showering with Sandusky. He said Sandusky would pretend to be wrestling when they heard others coming in while Sandusky was molesting him.

The records also include an analysis by a lawyer working as an expert for the insurance company that said the settlements paid by Penn State seemed very high, possibly as a result of the university's concern about publicity and a wish to resolve matters quickly.

Lawyer Eric Anderson said the school "made little effort, if any, to verify the credibility of the claims of the individuals."

Report: Joe Paterno allegedly told of Jerry Sandusky sex abuse in 1976

Penn State has made $92 million in total payouts to settle 32 civil claims in the Sandusky sex molestation scandal.

Ken Feinberg, a lawyer who helped mediate claims against the school, told reporters last week it was "a very objective process" and none of the cases were easy to resolve. He said Penn State was diligent in making sure the claims were backed up by sufficient proof.

Sandusky, who was arrested in 2011, is serving 30 to 60 years on a 45-count child molestation conviction.

___

Associated Press writers Maryclaire Dale and Michael R. Sisak in Philadelphia contributed to this report.

Abuse victim: Paterno ignored '76 Sandusky complaint (2024)

FAQs

Did Joe Paterno know about Sandusky in 1976? ›

Former Penn State Nittany Lions head football coach Joe Paterno was allegedly informed by a child about sexual misconduct by defensive assistant Jerry Sandusky all the way back in 1976, according to details of a court order released to PennLive.com's Charles Thompson on May 5.

Did Jerry Sandusky ever admit guilt? ›

Yes, I'm imperfect, have made mistakes and have been naive, but I am not a criminal.” Sandusky has maintained his innocence since the day he was put in handcuffs 10 years ago. State prosecutors, lawyers for those he abused and advocates for those who have been abused have long derided his refusal to admit guilt.

How much did Sandusky victims get paid? ›

Penn State has paid $118 million to Jerry Sandusky victims, audit report finds. Penn State has paid $118 million to individuals who were allegedly assaulted by former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky, according to the university's most recent audit report.

Where is coach Sandusky now? ›

State Correctional Institution – Laurel Highlands

Did Joe Paterno tell the police? ›

When you review the NCAA guidelines “post Sandusky” for reporting sexual abuse, they precisely mirror Joe Paterno's actions in the matter. He reported what he had been told to his boss (Athletic Director - Tim Curley) and the head of police with jurisdiction for where the reported abuse occurred (Gary Schultz).

What did McQueary tell Paterno? ›

Grand jury testimony alleged McQueary reported to Paterno of witnessing Jerry Sandusky raping a 10-year-old boy in a campus locker room; McQueary first told his father about the incident, then the next day informed Paterno, and then ten days later informed other university officials.

What happened to Dottie Sandusky? ›

The Sandusky family

Dottie Sandusky: Sandusky's wife has stood by her husband. She posted his bail and has accompanied him to many of his court appearances. Jeffrey Sandusky: Sandusky's son pleaded guilty in to pressuring a teenage girl to send him naked photos and asking her teen sister to perform a sex act.

Is Joe Paterno's statue still at Penn State? ›

It was located on the northeast side of Beaver Stadium on the campus of the Pennsylvania State University in State College, Pennsylvania until it was removed in 2012 in the aftermath of the Penn State child sex abuse scandal. State College, Pennsylvania, U.S.

Is Joe Paterno still alive? ›

Joe Paterno (born December 21, 1926, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.—died January 22, 2012, State College, Pennsylvania) was an American collegiate gridiron football coach, who, as head coach at Pennsylvania State University (1966–2011), was the winningest major-college coach in the history of the sport, with 409 career ...

Who reported Sandusky to the police? ›

The first documented suspicion about Sandusky came when the mother of an 11-year-old participant in the Second Mile, Sandusky's charity for at-risk children, called police after her son told her Sandusky had hugged him while they showered.

Who was the reporter who broke the Sandusky story? ›

Learn about Sara Ganim, an investigative journalist who won a Pulitzer Prize for breaking the Jerry Sandusky story. She also worked as a CNN correspondent, produced documentaries and created podcasts delving into government secrecy.

What job did Jerry Sandusky have? ›

Gerald Arthur Sandusky (born January 26, 1944) is an American convicted serial rapist, child molester and retired college football coach. Sandusky served as an assistant coach for his entire career, mostly at Pennsylvania State University under Joe Paterno, from 1969 to 1999.

Is Jerry Sandusky still married? ›

Sandusky's wife, Dottie, who has stood by him for the past 12 years, insisted she would have left him if she thought he had abused children. “I know who Jerry is. I never saw anything, and I was here.

Where did Mike Elko go to coach? ›

What does Sandusky mean? ›

The present name (from a Wyandot [Wendat] Indian word meaning “cold water” or “pure water”) was adopted in 1818. The first railroad arrived in 1835. In the 1850s Sandusky was a terminus of the Underground Railroad, an escape route for slaves.

Who broke the Sandusky story? ›

Learn about Sara Ganim, an investigative journalist who won a Pulitzer Prize for breaking the Jerry Sandusky story.

Was Joe Paterno statue removed? ›

On July 22, 2012, six months after Paterno's death, the university announced it had removed the statue and "store[d] it in a secure location", citing that it had become a "source of division and an obstacle to healing". The accompanying plaques, bas-relief, and quotations were removed as well.

How old was Joe Paterno when he died? ›

Joe Paterno, whose tenure as the most successful coach in major college football history ended abruptly in November amid allegations that he failed to respond forcefully enough to a sex abuse scandal involving a former assistant, died Sunday, his family said. He was 85.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Kieth Sipes

Last Updated:

Views: 6180

Rating: 4.7 / 5 (67 voted)

Reviews: 82% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Kieth Sipes

Birthday: 2001-04-14

Address: Suite 492 62479 Champlin Loop, South Catrice, MS 57271

Phone: +9663362133320

Job: District Sales Analyst

Hobby: Digital arts, Dance, Ghost hunting, Worldbuilding, Kayaking, Table tennis, 3D printing

Introduction: My name is Kieth Sipes, I am a zany, rich, courageous, powerful, faithful, jolly, excited person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.