Ex-Penn State prez charged in Sandusky case

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- The "conspiracy of silence" that protected Jerry Sandusky extended all the way to the top at Penn State, prosecutors said yesterday as they charged former university president Graham Spanier with hushing up child sexual abuse allegations against the former assistant football coach.

Prosecutors also added counts against two of Spanier's former subordinates, Tim Curley and Gary Schultz, who were already charged with lying to a grand jury.

"This was not a mistake by these men," said state Attorney General Linda Kelly. "This was a conspiracy of silence by top officials to actively conceal the truth."

Spanier's lawyers said he was innocent and described the new charges as an attempt by Gov. Tom Corbett to divert attention from the three-year investigation that began under his watch as attorney general.

Curley's lawyer Caroline Roberto said he was innocent of all charges. Schultz also has maintained his innocence.

Kelly said all three men "knowingly testified falsely and failed to provide important information and evidence." Spanier was charged with perjury, obstruction, endangering the welfare of children, failure to properly report suspected abuse and conspiracy. Curley and Schultz face new charges of endangering the welfare of children, obstruction and conspiracy.

Curley and Schultz were expected to be arraigned this afternoon and Spanier tentatively scheduled to appear Wednesday.

Sandusky was convicted in June of sexually abusing 10 boys over 15 years. He has maintained he is innocent and was transferred Wednesday to a maximum-security prison, where he is serving a 30- to 60-year sentence.

Spanier, 64, of State College, had been university president for 16 years when he was forced out after Sandusky's November 2011 arrest. He remains a faculty member but was placed on paid leave yesterday.

Prosecutors said Spanier, Curley and Schultz knew of complaints involving Sandusky showering with boys in 1998 and 2001.