Penn State: Former Sandusky charity board members: We needed to know

Former Sandusky charity board members: We needed to know

Tribune News Services
December 19, 2011

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Former board members of Jerry Sandusky's charity say its CEO never told them about a 2002 shower incident that is the focus of child sexual abuse charges against the retired Penn State assistant coach. If they knew Sandusky had been banned from bringing kids on campus, they say they could have taken steps to better protect children a decade ago.

"Not one thing was said to us," said Bradley P. Lunsford, a Centre County judge who served on the Second Mile board between 2001 and 2005. "Not a damn thing."....

One of Raykovitz's vice presidents said Raykovitz also shared little information with his managers about a 2008 sexual abuse complaint that led to the current criminal charges against Sandusky.

And the head of Clinton County's child welfare agency, where the 2008 investigation began, said he told Raykovitz's wife in November 2008 that Sandusky had been spoken to about getting "too close" to children involved with the charity. Gerald Rosamilia said Raykovitz's wife, Katherine Genovese, who helped run The Second Mile, did not define what was meant by "too close" or give a timeframe.

Raykovitz defended himself in a telephone interview, saying he acted appropriately at all times. "There have always been steps in place to protect kids," he said.

The grand jury that charged Sandusky with 52 sexual abuse-related counts involving 10 boys said the former coach "found his victims" through The Second Mile and committed many of his offenses inside Penn State football buildings....

The Second Mile has been named in two civil complaints, including one that seeks to preserve the charity's assets.

David Marshall, a Washington, D.C., lawyer who represents other accusers, said: "It may have been only Sandusky who laid his hands on these children, but it is clear that a number of other individuals and agencies placed the children in harm's way by knowingly taking actions that allowed the abuse to continue even after they became fully aware of it."
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/college/chi-former-second-mile-board-members-we-needed-to-know-20111219,0,2593142.story