A pair of former Penn State University (PSU) administrators pleaded guilty to misdemeanor child endangerment on Monday, 13 March 2017, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Former athletic director Timothy M. Curley and former vice president Gary C. Schultz were charged with failing to report the sexual abuse of children by former PSU assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky.
Prosecutors dropped felony charges of conspiracy in exchange for their pleas. The men could face a maximum of five years in prison for the misdemeanor charge of child endangerment, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Only one defendant – former PSU president Graham B. Spanier – remains in the case. Spanier faces charges of child endangerment and conspiracy and jury selection for his trial is slated to begin on 20 March.
Sandusky was indicted in 2011 on charges of sexually abusing young boys, following a 2001 report from former PSU graduate assistant Mike McQueary, who reportedly told former PSU head coach Joe Paterno that he saw Sandusky sexually abusing a boy in a locker-room shower. Sandusky was convicted in 2012 of 45 counts related to the abuse of 10 boys, receiving a sentence of 30 to 60 years.
The case divided the university and its athletic community over who may have ignored, missed or covered up Sandusky’s actions over the years.
By Eric Mann
Eric Mann is the communications assistant at the United States Sports Academy. Reach him at emann@ussa.edu.