Freeh Report: In 1998 and 1999, Paterno and Others Knew About Investigation, Encouraged Sandusky to Take Position as Director of Youth Charity
What follows here are excerpts from a timeline in the Freeh Report of events in 1998 and 1999.
May, 1998:
– Sandusky assaults Victim 6 in Lasch Building shower.
– Schultz is immediately informed of the investigation and notifies Spanier and Curley. Schultz’s confidential May 4, 1998 notes about Sandusky state: “Behavior – at best inappropriate @ worst sexual improprieties” and “At min – Poor Judgment.” Schultz also notes: “Is this opening of pandora’s box?” and “Other children?”
– Curley notifies Schultz and Spanier that he has “touched base with” Paterno about the incident. Days later, Curley emails Schultz: “Anything new in this department? Coach is anxious to know where it stands.”
June, 1998:
– District Attorney declines to bring charges against Sandusky.
– Harmon emails Schultz: officers “met discreetly” with Sandusky and “his account of the matter was essentially the same as the child’s.” Sandusky said “he had done this with other children in the past. Sandusky was advised that there was no criminal behavior established and that the matter was closed as an investigation.”
– Schultz emails Curley and Spanier: “I think the matter has been appropriately investigated and I hope it is now behind us.”
– Curley emails Spanier and Schultz: Sandusky wants to coach one more year and then transition to an outreach program.
May, 1999:
– Sandusky writes a letter to Curley saying, because he will not be next head football coach, he is considering retirement. Sandusky also seeks “to maintain a long‐term relationship with the University.”
– Curley emails Spanier and Schultz, discussing Sandusky’s retirement options: “Joe did give him the option to continue to coach as long as he was the coach.” Suggests possibility of Sandusky “coaching three more seasons.”
– Sandusky proposes continuing connection with Penn State, including running a middle school youth football camp and finding “ways for [Sandusky] to continue to work with young people through Penn State.” Paterno handwriting on the note states: “Volunteer Position Director – Positive Action for Youth.”
– A retirement agreement with Sandusky is reached in June 1999, including an unusual lump sum payment of $168,000, an agreement for the University to “work collaboratively” with Sandusky on Second Mile and other community activities, and free lifetime use of East Area Locker Room facilities.
December, 1999:
– Sandusky brings Victim 4 to 1999 Alamo Bowl in Texas.
– Sandusky assaults Victim 4 at team hotel.
Here's what Louis Freeh said above the 1998 events in his press conference:
"The evidence shows that these four men also knew about a 1998 criminal investigation of Sandusky relating to suspected sexual misconduct with a young boy in a Penn State football locker room shower. Again, they showed no concern about that victim. The evidence shows that Mr. Paterno was made aware of the 1998 investigation of Sandusky, followed it closely, but failed to take any action, even though Sandusky had been a key member of his coaching staff for almost 30 years, and had an office just steps away from Mr. Paterno’s. At the very least, Mr. Paterno could have alerted the entire football staff, in order to prevent Sandusky from bringing another child into the Lasch Building. Messrs. Spanier, Schultz, Paterno and Curley also failed to alert the Board of Trustees about the 1998 investigation or take any further action against Mr. Sandusky. None of them even spoke to Sandusky about his conduct. In short, nothing was done and Sandusky was allowed to continue with impunity."
More to come.