Former Penn State Assistant Football Coach Jerry Sandusky was indicted today by a grand jury on sexual abuse charges connected to a number of incidents dating back to 1995 and as recent as 2005, according to court documents.
Sandusky faces 40 counts on charges including involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a minor less than 16 years old, aggravated indecent assault, indecent assault of a minor less than 13 years old and endangering the welfare of a child, among others, according to court documents. Charges were filed with the office of Magisterial District Judge Leslie Dutchcot.
The 67-year-old from State College – who has a Berkey Creamery ice cream flavor named after him, “Sandusky Blitz,” and was once considered next in line as Joe Paterno’s successor – has been under investigation since January 2009.
Allegations were brought to light when a 15-year-old student from Central Mountain High School in Clinton County told school officials that Sandusky had touched him when they were alone in the gym.
At that time, Sandusky was a volunteer football coach at the high school. Since then, Sandusky has been under investigation by a Pennsylvania grand jury. Penn State figures like Joe Paterno, Gary Schultz and Tim Curley appeared before the grand jury during the investigation.
In 1999, Sandusky retired from Penn State and began to focus on the charity he founded in the 1970s called The Second Mile, which is a program catering to children in Pennsylvania. Sandusky retired from his work with The Second Mile in 2010.
Officials from the Office of Athletic Communications and University Relations did not return calls for comment as of Friday evening.