There’s an interesting – and underplayed – irony in word that the alleged victim in the now infamous Penn State shower assault by Jerry Sandusky is now coming forward and planning to sue Penn State.
This is believed to be the young man then graduate assistant Mike McQueary saw being assaulted by Sandusky in the shower. He went home and told his father. The next day he reported it to Paterno, who reported it to the athletic director. Not much else happened. It has been pointed to again and again as part of the problem in the way Penn State officials responded to the issues surrounding Sandusky – not enough was done.
But while everyone remembers that Sandusky was convicted on 45 of 48 counts of child sexual abuse, one of the counts on which he was acquitted was in fact a charge connected to this shower encounter.
McQueary’s varying stories were not enough to convince a jury that there was actual penetration. Sandusky was convicted of other charges connected to this victim.
Would it have made a difference if the victim had come forward and spoken to investigators?
We may find out at a civil trial.
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