Penn State Scandal: Coach Joe Paterno to Retire Amid Sex Abuse Allegations
Penn State football coach Joe Paterno is retiring at the end of the season.
According to the Associated Press, the decision came as Penn State is rocked with a child sex abuse scandal involving other coaches and school officials.
The controversy stems from allegations that former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky sexually abused eight boys over a 15-year period. School officials failed to address the issue appropriately.
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Sandusky was charged with 40 counts of sexual abuse of children, stemming from the allegations, according to reports. The abuse occurred between 1994 and 2009.
Paterno was accused of not following up with reports he made to school officials regarding an alleged abuse.
Paterno is slated to make an official retirement announcement Wednesday. The head coach came under fire for not addressing the abuse more aggressively.
A graduate assistant at Penn State told Paterno in 2002 he witnessed Sandusky sexually assaulting a boy in the locker room showers. Paterno took steps to notify school officials.
“As Coach Sandusky was retired from our coaching staff at the time, I referred the matter to university administrators,” Paterno said.
Athletic Director Tim Curley and Vice President for Finance and Business Gary Shultz did not alert the police after Paterno’s reports of the incident. The duo is charged with perjury and failing to alert police about Sandusky’s sexual abuse.
The pair also stepped down from their positions at Penn State.
“I understand that people are upset and angry," Paterno said, "but let's be fair and let the legal process unfold.”
Paterno initially denied reports that Penn State officials demanded his resignation. Students, community members and school officials have publicly come out of both sides of the issue – some demanding he step down, others saying he did enough in his reporting.
It is unclear if school officials encouraged Paterno’s retirement.
