Who knew about Jerry Sandusky, when and why they did nothing (VIDEO)
Penn State season ticket holders and 1963 graduates Pat (L) and Dan Amey wear shirts supporting Joe Paterno outside Beaver Stadium before the start of the Penn State vs. Nebraska NCAA football game in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky scandal on November 12, 2011 in State College, Pennsylvania. The Penn State head football coach was fired amid allegations that former Penn State defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky was involved with child sex abuse.
The judge who ordered that former Pennsylvania State University assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky, accused of sexually abusing young boys, be freed on $100,000 unsecured bail reportedly worked as a volunteer for the charity he founded.
Prosecutors had requested a $500,000 bail for Sandusky, Fox News reported, but "District Judge Leslie Dutchcot ruled he be freed without having to post any money unless he failed to show up for court." Dutchcot also declined to order that Sandusky wear a leg monitor.
Meanwhile, board members of the charity, The Second Mile, are reportedly shocked by the child sex-abuse charges against Sandusky.
"Honestly, everyone is shocked. These are horrific charges," state Sen. Jake Corman told the Wall Street Journal reported. "If true, someone that everyone held up with the highest esteem possible turns into a monster."
Corman also said that when he joined the Second Mile board in 2010, he knew about an investigation into Sandusky but had few details, despite regular meetings of statewide board members, the WSJ reported.
"We were never contacted by the Attorney General's office. Just Jerry himself told us and then his lawyer," Corman reportedly said. "We knew it was out there and we were sort of bracing ourselves if an indictment ever came down. We didn't have much interaction with the investigation."
The charity on Monday released a statement, published on its website, that read:
The newly released details and the breadth of the allegations from the Attorney General’s office bring shock, sadness and concern from The Second Mile organization. Our prayers, care and compassion go out to all impacted.
The statement read that while recent reports stated that Sandusky met his alleged victims through The Second Mile over a period of 15 years, "To our knowledge, all the alleged incidents occurred outside of our programs and events."
Sandusky founded The Second Mile in 1977 to help house troubled boys. It has since been honored as one of President George H.W. Bush's "points of light," and had numerous sporting legends, including golfer Arnold Palmer, act as honorary board members.
According to a grand jury report, Sandusky met his alleged victims through the nonprofit at events like a summer camp held on the Penn State campus, the WSJ reported.
The Sandusky scandal has claimed the career of legendary Penn State head coach Joe Paterno, 84, fired on Friday for his perceived inaction in the face of accusations against Sandusky.
The Penn State Nittany Lions lost 17-14 to the visiting Nebraska Cornhuskers on Saturday, their first game in 46 years without Paterno as head coach, the Globe and Mail reported.