OT: Spanier Convicted of Misdemeanor Child Endangerment

Submitted by vertiGoBlue on

As per subject, Graham Spanier, ex-PSU president has been convicted of one count of misdemeanor child endangerment. He was acquitted of a charge of conspiracy and a 2nd child endangerment charge.

Here's a write-up on PennLive. Not a lot of info, but perhaps more will emerge soon.

NittanyFan

March 24th, 2017 at 7:11 PM ^

their OWN witnesses were contradicting each other.  I won't defend Grahan Spanier ... but this seems to be a correct decision by the jury.  Seriously --- if you're a juror, what are you supposed to do with that?  The defense literally didn't call a single person to the stand.

Spanier amended his own lawsuit against Louis Freeh the other day, so the saga of all these various lawsuits isn't over yet.

vertiGoBlue

March 24th, 2017 at 7:56 PM ^

According to the PennLive article, the defense team 

...worked to show the jury that Spanier, whose information on Sandusky came from former Athletic Director Tim Curley and former senior vice president Gary Schultz, never understood that what McQueary saw was sexual or possibly criminal in nature.

Even if that is (mostly) true, one would have hoped (expected) that he would have erred on the side of being overly protective of possible (and future possible) victims. As to the criminality (or lack thereof) of his non-actions, well, it seems that is now a matter of record per this jury.
 
Also, it seems far-fetched that his only knowledge of the situation would be from the McQueary incident. I suppose his defense could argue that, yes, there was institutional knowledge of other incidents, but none of it reached Spanier. Again, seems far-fetched. 

LSAClassOf2000

March 24th, 2017 at 7:28 PM ^

Spanier's defense attorney, however, said Spanier did the best he could with a bad situation, and argued that the prosecution was trying to criminalize a judgment call.

Letting THAT run unchecked for another decade doesn't seem to fit the definition of "making the best of a bad situation" as I know it, but then what do I know, eh?

The Fan in Fargo

March 25th, 2017 at 12:18 AM ^

You don't know much, this is true but you are correct here. What a bunch of lunatics. I mean, I look at some young women in their 20s when I probably shouldn't but this whole situation is so damn sick. I know people look at North Dakota like a bunch of idiots but at least our state wide economy was great in a recession and we would crucify men that even attemped this crap. There is no chance that this could ever happen here with respected members of society. Maybe like up in the oil fields where there are no police and no living human being with an ounce of common sense. You will never prove me wrong there. Blows my mind what kind of state Pennsylvania is.

NittanyFan

March 24th, 2017 at 7:37 PM ^

so it's not right to say the victims have received no justice.

Not to get overly philosophical --- but as a believer in the next life ---- I believe that noone escapes justice THERE.  We'll all get there eventually.  

As for this world --- the jury has spoken.  It may not be perfect, but it's been the American way for 240+ years now and I'm not sure there's a better system.

Wolfman

March 24th, 2017 at 8:00 PM ^

We should establish a nation full of schools of higher education and they should be the leaders in providing examples to their communities on the correct procedures for establishing and building upon the proper foundation, striving to ensure all blocks are placed firmly in place, no short cuts given, and making all aware that at all times, the goal is to create places throughout the nation where its citizens will walk free and there must always be in place a state of heightened diligence towrd the safety of the children. They will be, of course, onsidered our no. 1 priority, and this can never change because we all get only one time in our life where all that is expecteded of us is to be happy and bring smiles to the adults around us, giving them hope and letting them know with  our smiles, our carefree attitude they are doing a wonderful job  If we are successful in doing this, they too, will eagerly pass on this highly principled approach and the priorities of a growing population will never become twisted. 

But if it should be impossible to do this because let's say those that teach us our value system prove to be weak men, men of a dubious quality, These men certainly must be separated from the community,  and in no way can they be allowed to enter this mythical place you speak of. They need not be weighed again. They have fallen far short of that which is necessary to merely be allowed to be placed near those known not to be afflicted with  such a terrible disease. In fact, there is no need to even extend their life after this disease is discovered. There is simply no further need to water and feed them. 

BeatIt

March 25th, 2017 at 6:05 AM ^

Couldn't of said better myself. As men we've been ordained the leaders of mankind for thousands of years. These 4 men had the opportunity to do the right thing and for whatever reason they shrunk in the face of a very horrendous situation. They failed their fellow men and women. I put most of the blame on paterno. He was like a deity @ penn state or as close as a man can come to that. He was bigger than the university itself. Even the board of trustees Was subordinate to him when they asked him to resign. For anyone to say paterno couldn't have stopped Sandusky is being naive. What blows me away is how some fans and alumni still do not to this day admit paternos guilt in all of this?I really thought Schultz, Curley and spanier would have thrown paterno under the bus but understand why the prosecutor didn't push that narrative since spanier was the one on trial. But wouldn't the president still deserve punishment if he didn't stand up to paterno?

Perkis-Size Me

March 24th, 2017 at 7:35 PM ^

Whatever conviction he gets is too good for him.



He enabled the rape and suffering of children for a fucking football team. He deserves to rot alone in a jail cell for the rest of his life.

Perkis-Size Me

March 24th, 2017 at 7:38 PM ^

Whatever conviction he gets is too good for him. He enabled the rape and suffering of children. That's ninth circle of hell kind of shit.

He deserves to rot alone in a jail cell for the rest of his life.

Mgodiscgolfer

March 25th, 2017 at 4:52 PM ^

Like something you would associate with a parking ticket or a illegal turn like something that could be done by accident. Certainly not with child abuse or sexual abuse. Sexual abuse or neglecting to uncover it being performed, as in you were an eye witness. I could easily see that going to the level of aiding and abetting a fugitive in a murder or kidnapping, and I'm damn sure you would be charged with a felony and you should be charged as such.

I don't know about anyone else here but this type of crime effects me to the point of turning my stomache very simular to murder or kidnapping. The taking advantage of the innocence (as in child neglect) in such a dispicable way is unconscionable and equal to the harshest punishment at our disposal that is handed down like in murder cases so the guilty will never get the chance to repeat such a hideous act again.

Go Blue in MN

March 24th, 2017 at 9:35 PM ^

The impression a lot of us had when PA reached a plea agreement with Curley and Schultz were that they were rolling over on Spanier and that Spanier was going to be in a world of hurt.  It looks like that was not the case, as it sounds like the evidence against Spanier was largely circumstantial in nature (i.e., he must have known what Sandusky was doing).

If Spanier wasn't told about the seriousness of the allegations, doesn't that imply someone (Curley, Schultz, and/or Paterno) hid it from him? 

BeatIt

March 25th, 2017 at 6:17 AM ^

They all conspired together to cover up this scandal and protect not just the football program but the university as well. The young graduate coach was just at fault as the rest as he put his coaching career ahead of a defenseless child. I'm not saying he should have beaten Sandusky to death but he should have at least stopped what was obviously inappropriate behavior by a grown man before calling the police. No his first thought was he needed paternos blessing. That is the perfect example of how powerful Paterno was. Anyone associated with the football program from the janitors to the president of the university itself knew the wrath they would face from paterno if they did anything without his approval.

MTH1993

March 25th, 2017 at 4:58 PM ^

I still agree with the poster from last fall who wanted to crowd source funding to get #joeknew banner to fly over every ped state game until the go x months without making public moves that further hurt the victims (like trying to get statues back, saying a good season helps the healing process,...) i cannot find that post now but that was a good idea we at least have to do it next time they are in a2)