Hide Yo Kids. Paterno/Sandusky Trial/Penn State Megathread

[SethMode]

No. What is legally required by state law is to report this to authorities. Failing to do that, Paterno did not do what was legally required of him. He told his boss, his boss did nothing, and Paterno has gone on living his life for the last 9 years knowing nothing came of his half-assed attempt to "report" the incident. Nine fucking years! This is an institutional cover up and Paterno is just as guilty as his superiors.

And that's before we factor in the fact that there was already a similar incident four years earlier that that was swept under the rug by PSU.

The point though, is that that is presuming to know what Paterno did and did not know. That is my point. As the situation stands Paterno did what was legally required of him.

We will know if he was an accessory when we have all of the facts (although my guess is that Paterno's involvement in the whole thing will be something that will mostly be speculated upon from here on -- and most likely due to university cover-up -- which is sad).

Look, the thing is, I've seen plenty of situations where assumptions are made that ruin lives. I'm not saying Paterno is or isn't guilty, I'm just saying I would like to get some more information before I demonize a person. It's a liberty that I would like for myself if I ever have any legal trouble, and therefore it's something I decided in law school that I would provide clients/people. :noidea:

EDIT - This whole situation has me sick to my stomach, don't get me wrong. I graduated from PSU AND got my JD from PSU. I am disgusted with the overall situation and recognize that no good can come of it (obviously). I just also strongly believe in innocent until proven guilty.

 

[FedEx227]

False.


So outside of not doing what was legally required of him, he did everything legally required of him. I am frankly amazed this is not a black and white issue for some. Neglecting to report child abuse is always wrong. Always.

If it was Miami (OH) and a coach other than JoePa there'd be way more outcry.

It's ridiculous that people are justifying this.

 

[EmpireWF]

Apparently PSU Police investigated the guy in 1998 and wrote a 30 page report about it.

Mike Francessa talking about it, says it's illogical that Paterno did not know about the situation then, because out of nowhere in the publics eye, the coach was let go after the 1999 season.


EDIT....

Yeah, it looks terrible for Paterno. It looks like he knew of the allegations against Sandusky as early as 1998 and it was the reason he pushed him off the staff in 1999. Fast forward to 2002 when the witness tells him what he witnessed, Paterno tells the AD and that's it as far as he's concerned.

Even though he tells the AD, how does he not follow up, knowing what he probably does? Public perception is PSU did their damnedest to keep this under wraps. I'm not saying Paterno actively was part of a cover-up (or else, he'd be charged, too), but he certainly fucked up...it looks like.

 

[DJ Rhude]

Some sick ass shit man....I can't believe people are trying to justify it just because Joe Pa is a legend.....in something like this, who cares that he coached for 100 years, he basically washed his hands of reporting known sexual abuse of kids.....KIDS......had Joe Pa and his superiors done the right thing, this Sandusky guy could've been locked up a long time ago, sparing a few kids from his filthy clutches.....SMH!

Blind loyalty is the worst kind of loyalty on this planet

And to answer the original question, Joe Pa is done

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

Lots of wild specutlation a conjecture ITT.

Again, nobody knows what (if any) involvement Paterno had in this. Nobody knows what he told police or the grand jury.

On the other hand, I know what he bosses didn't do, because they're losing their jobs and likely going to jail.

I need more information. Here is a man that has not been arrested or apparently done anything illegal, and has not even spoken for himself concerning the issue at this point, yet some of you here seem to think he was implicitly involved in a cover up. Well, apparently the police don't know that. You don't know shit. Let it play out.

 

[ralaw]

I need more information. Here is a man that has not been arrested or apparently done anything illegal, and has not even spoken for himself concerning the issue at this point, yet some of you here seem to think he was implicitly involved in a cover up. Well, apparently the police don't know that. You don't know shit. Let it play out.

Pennsylvania law requires that you report sexual assault of a child.

"We were all fooled" - Joe Paterno

LOL....maybe your blind loyalty had you fooled. I find it hard to believe that he had no knowledge that his good friend and assistant coach of 3 decades had already been investigated in 1998 for “incidents with children in football building showers.” Then again this is all conjecture on my part. Either way his actions were really suspect.This isn't like reporting a player cheated on a test or got a parking violation. As assistant coach has been accused of having sex with a 10 year old in your locker room and all you do is let the AD know and move on?

 

[FirstTimer]

Pennsylvania law requires that you report sexual assault of a child.

I think that requires Joe Pa to know for sure that a sexual assault occurred.

Joe Pa isn't required to inform the police of unsubstantiated rumors. Unless Joe Pa witnessed the assault or had some other first hand knowledge of it he didn't do anything illegal.

 

[shag773]

Pennsylvania law requires that you report sexual assault of a child..

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/...tigation-conference-paterno-ag_n_1080129.html

"State police Commissioner Frank Noonan said, as far as state police can tell, Paterno fulfilled his legal requirement to report."

 

[ralaw]

I think that requires Joe Pa to know for sure that a sexual assault occurred.

Joe Pa isn't required to inform the police of unsubstantiated rumors. Unless Joe Pa witnessed the assault or had some other first hand knowledge of it he didn't do anything illegal.

That's the part that's funny to me about people defending his actions. An assistant coach has been accused of having sex with a 10 year old in your locker room and all you do is tell the AD and move on? LOL, okay. I don't consider "subjecting a 10 year old boy to anal intercourse" as an unsubstantiated rumor that should be brushed off.

I'm amazed that people see Paterno's actions as being justified. His good friend and assistant coach was accused of this 9 years ago and he never wondered what happened with it?

 

[DJ Rhude]

Pretty ironic that the same people who are saying, "let the facts come out first" are the same ones who roast athletes on the norm as soon as something is reported.....never mind the facts are never fully out before you form your opinions.....follow your own advice the next time some shit goes down with a public figure

 

[FedEx227]

Again, would we hear the term "unsubstantiated rumors" and "wait for the facts" if this happened to Dave Clawson or Bowling Green?

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

I think that requires Joe Pa to know for sure that a sexual assault occurred.

Joe Pa isn't required to inform the police of unsubstantiated rumors. Unless Joe Pa witnessed the assault or had some other first hand knowledge of it he didn't do anything illegal.

I don't think people are being honest with themselves here.

If someone knocked on my front door and told me they saw someone that i've known for three decades was fondling a child, i'm not running to the phone to call the police, and neither are 99% of you. I'd probably be skeptical. I'd probably tell the person who supposedly witnessed the act to call the police. If I worked with the person in question, i'd tell my boss. If the police questioned me, i'd be forthright and honest.

Sounds like exactly what Paterno did. Maybe i'm a cretin, too. Fine. But to me some of you are being a bit self righteous.

 

[NAHSTE]

Unless Joe Pa witnessed the assault or had some other first hand knowledge of it he didn't do anything illegal.

:edlover:

Let's recap:

- In 1998, Sandusky was investigated by PSU PD for showering with boys. He was told not to shower with boys anymore.

- 1999, Sandusky retires

- In 2002, a GA comes to Paterno and tells him that he saw Sandusky in the shower with a 10-year old boy





...You really expect us to believe Paterno had no inclination? This is four years after a similar incident which he likely knew about.

 

[SethMode]

Again, would we hear the term "unsubstantiated rumors" if this happened to Dave Clawson or Bowling Green?

I would, but that's just me. Can't speak for others.

I understand people drawing their own conclusions, but it's a little silly that now people are being demonized for saying that they want to let the situation play out before jumping to a conclusion. But hey, as I said before, that is the world we live in now. The Duke lacrosse team is guilty without a shadow of a doubt and Ray Lewis killed someone.

 

[FirstTimer]

That's the part that's funny to me about people defending his actions. An assistant coach has been accused of having sex with a 10 year old in your locker room and all you do is tell the AD and move on? LOL, okay. I don't consider "subjecting a 10 year old boy to anal intercourse" as an unsubstantiated rumor that should be brushed off.

He didn't brush it off. He reported it to who it needed to go to.

You don't know how seriously or not seriously Joe Pa took the allegations when they were brought to him. He followed the guidelines PSU set up. Could he have done more morally? Sure...... but I'm not going to sit here and try to judge what was in Joe Pa's heart and mind on something very serious that involved a very good friend of his. Im there was a bunch of inner conflict going on.


Short of Sandusky admitting it to Joe Pa directly or Joe Pa witnessing it he was under no lgela obligation to report it.

The person who actually should have reported it went to Joe Pa instead of the authorities.

As with the entire Declan Sullivan/Lizzy Seeberg thing at ND I will wait for more information and for everything to come out.

 

[FedEx227]

Well I mean, Ray Lewis DID kill someone.

But seriously, Marvin Harrison definitely did.

 

[shag773]

That's the part that's funny to me about people defending his actions. An assistant coach has been accused of having sex with a 10 year old in your locker room and all you do is tell the AD and move on? LOL, okay. I don't consider "subjecting a 10 year old boy to anal intercourse" as an unsubstantiated rumor that should be brushed off.

I'm amazed that people see Paterno's actions as being justified.

You know what's funny to me? People that have no fucking idea about what the man knew, didn't know, or what his actual actions were; then jumping to conclusions and acting like he covered his eyes, ears, and mouth and did nothing.

What we do know is there is a 23 page grand jury statement and a thorough investigation that was made and Paterno wasn't found to be guilty of anything.

I think it's fair to reserve judgment until the man comes out and addresses what he did, didnt do, and should of done.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

Again, would we hear the term "unsubstantiated rumors" and "wait for the facts" if this happened to Dave Clawson or Bowling Green?

I know the tree you are barking up here, but the difference is, at least for me, I wouldn't care enough to read 15 articles about it or analyze it. Yet if I did that, my feelings would remain the same.

I am not exonerating Paterno, I just don't feel like we know enough yet. Nobody knows what he told his bosses, nobody knows what he told the police.

 

[SethMode]

But seriously, Marvin Harrison definitely did.

I have been to both the club outside of which Harrison shot that dude in the hand, AND the shitty Chinese food place outside of which Harrison had one of his boys finish the job.

There is not a person in my neighborhood that doesn't believe that Harrison did it. Oddly enough though, the guy is beloved here for how much he puts back into the area.

The more I say, the more the correlation to this Joe Pa scandal is presenting itself...

 

[FirstTimer]

Again, would we hear the term "unsubstantiated rumors" and "wait for the facts" if this happened to Dave Clawson or Bowling Green?

Yes.

...You really expect us to believe Paterno had no inclination? This is four years after a similar incident which he likely knew about.

"Inclination"..even if Joe Pa had it, doesn't mean he is legally requried to report it to the police.

That's the point.