PENNSYLVANIA
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
January 20, 2014
By Max Mitchell / The Legal Intelligencer
A recent ruling in the state Superior Court could narrow the chances of conviction for three former Penn State administrators accused of covering up sexual abuse perpetrated by Jerry Sandusky, according to several attorneys.
On Dec. 26, the Superior Court tossed out the conviction of Monsignor William J. Lynn, who was the first Catholic Church administrative official convicted of endangering the welfare of children abused by other priests.
But the intermediate court found that Monsignor Lynn should not have been charged as a principal under the pre-2007 child endangerment statute because he was not the direct supervisor of any of the alleged victims.
In 2007, the state Legislature expanded the endangerment statute so that it can be applied to include not only a parent, guardian or “other person” supervising a child, but also to someone who employs or supervises such a person.
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