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  Sandusky Accused of Abusing Grandchild

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
November 24, 2011

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/regional/s_768903.html

Former Penn State defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky has been hit with a new complaint, this one filed by his daughter-in-law, who claims he abused one of his grandchildren.

The complaint was filed with Centre County's Children and Youth Services by the wife of one of his adopted sons, Sandusky's lawyer told ABC News.

The lawyer, Joe Amendola, said the allegation cites the abuse of one grandchild.

"The allegations are ridiculous and unfounded. Jerry has absolutely denied any inappropriate contact with his grandkids," Amendola told ABC News.

Meanwhile, one of Sandusky's alleged victims went to court on Wednesday to get an injunction to stop Second Mile, the charity established by Sandusky, from dissipating its assets.

In a filing in Pennsylvania state court, the alleged victim said he and others intended to sue Second Mile for negligence and failing to report known sexual abuse of children, and wanted to stop the charity's assets from disappearing.

Authorities say Sandusky used the charity for at-risk kids to meet and groom potential victims.

If the two new cases under investigation by Children and Youth Services are deemed credible, they would be the first known accusations to be made by children. The other publicly known cases involve adults who were allegedly abused by Sandusky when they were children.

Amendola also said during the interview that his client should spend the rest of his life in prison if he is guilty of the charges. The attorney said Sandusky is innocent.

Amendola says two new claims of child sexual abuse against the former Penn State football defensive coordinator are unfounded.

The attorney said one claim stemmed from a Sandusky family dispute. He characterized the other as an example of people trying to mimic allegations and "jump on the bandwagon."

"That doesn't surprise me because we believe there would be a number of copycat allegations, people who really maybe not even had direct contact with Jerry," Amendola said.

He said the accusations would be vigorously contended should they result in charges.

Sandusky is charged with sexually abusing eight boys over a 15-year period. He has said he showered with some boys but never sexually abused them.

The (Harrisburg) Patriot-News has reported that the new claims were brought within the past two months.

"We'll defend those if and when they become charges," Amendola said. "We'll defend those just like we're defending the other charges."

Lawyers for the other two people arrested earlier this month as a result of the same grand jury investigation are asking prosecutors to turn over material to help them prepare for a preliminary hearing next month.

Attorneys for Athletic Director Tim Curley and former university Vice President Gary Schultz wrote to state prosecutors Tuesday asking for grand jury testimony and other information related to their cases. They face charges of perjury and failure to properly report suspected child abuse.

The letter also hints at a likely defense strategy: questioning the testimony of a graduate assistant who said he reported seeing Sandusky rape a child in 2002.

Among other things, they asked for corroboration of statements by assistant coach Mike McQueary that he told Schultz and Curley he witnessed Sandusky sodomizing a boy in the football team showers nine years ago. They said such corroboration is needed to meet the relatively low legal standard required for the perjury charge to advance from the preliminary hearing to county court for a full trial.

"The presentment states no such corroboration," wrote Caroline Roberto, who represents Curley, and Thomas J. Farrell, Schultz's lawyer.

Roberto and Farrell acknowledged that Pennsylvania's criminal procedure rules don't require the disclosure they are seeking, but told state prosecutor Jonelle Eshbach she had the discretion to provide it.

Meanwhile, a judge has granted a request to keep secret the name of one of Jerry Sandusky's alleged victims.

The alleged victim's attorneys had sought to conceal his identity, saying it could appear in court documents or be disclosed in statements by Sandusky or his attorney.

Perry and Juniata County President Judge Kathy Morrow granted that request. The victim will be referred to as "John Doe" going forward.

Attorney Andrew Shubin says his client is afraid of being publicly identified.

Read more: Sandusky accused of abusing grandchild - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/regional/s_768903.html#ixzz1eePzzdIP

 
 

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