Penn State and Jerry Sandusky
The 2011 grand jury case against the former assistant coach, the cover-up charges against university leaders, and the sanctions and settlements that followed.
80 developments, 2011–2026, oldest first.
2011
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Patriot-News reports grand jury is investigating ex-Penn State coach Jerry Sandusky
The Harrisburg Patriot-News first reported that a state grand jury was investigating allegations that former Penn State defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky abused a boy. The story went largely unnoticed nationally until charges were filed months later.
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Jerry Sandusky charged with child sex abuse; Penn State AD Curley and VP Schultz charged
The Pennsylvania attorney general charged Sandusky with sexually abusing eight boys over 15 years. Athletic director Tim Curley and vice president Gary Schultz were charged with perjury and failing to report abuse.
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Curley placed on leave and Schultz steps down as Penn State officials face charges
Penn State said Curley would go on administrative leave and Schultz would step down as the two administrators prepared to answer perjury and failure-to-report charges in court.
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U.S. Education Department opens Clery Act review of Penn State
The U.S. Department of Education announced it would investigate whether Penn State violated the Clery Act's campus crime reporting requirements in its handling of the Sandusky allegations.
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Penn State trustees oust coach Joe Paterno and president Graham Spanier
Penn State's board of trustees removed head football coach Joe Paterno effective immediately, and president Graham Spanier left office, days after the Sandusky charges became public.
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Penn State puts assistant coach Mike McQueary on paid administrative leave
Penn State placed assistant coach Mike McQueary, who testified he witnessed Sandusky with a boy in a campus shower in 2001, on indefinite paid leave, citing threats against him.
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Second Mile president Jack Raykovitz resigns amid Sandusky allegations
Jack Raykovitz resigned as president and CEO of The Second Mile, the youth charity Sandusky founded, after the grand jury report said he had been informed of the 2001 incident.
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In NBC interview, Sandusky denies abuse but admits showering with boys
In a televised phone interview with NBC's Bob Costas, Sandusky denied being a pedophile while acknowledging he had showered with boys. Prosecutors later used the interview at trial.
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Penn State hires ex-FBI director Louis Freeh to lead internal investigation
Penn State's trustees hired former FBI Director Louis Freeh to conduct an independent investigation of how the university handled allegations against Sandusky.
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First civil lawsuit filed against Sandusky, Penn State and The Second Mile
An anonymous plaintiff filed the first civil suit in the scandal, alleging Sandusky abused him and naming Penn State and The Second Mile as defendants.
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Sandusky arrested again on charges involving two additional accusers
Sandusky was arrested on new charges after two more alleged victims came forward, bringing the total number of accusers in the criminal case to ten.
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Curley and Schultz ordered to stand trial on perjury charges after preliminary hearing
At a preliminary hearing in Harrisburg, McQueary testified and Paterno's grand jury testimony was read into the record; a judge sent the perjury and failure-to-report charges against Curley and Schultz to trial.
2012
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Joe Paterno dies at 85, two months after his firing
Former Penn State coach Joe Paterno died of complications from lung cancer, about ten weeks after trustees removed him amid the Sandusky scandal.
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Penn State's insurer asks court to limit its liability for Sandusky claims
Penn State's liability insurer, PMA, asked a Philadelphia court to limit its exposure for abuse claims connected to Sandusky, opening years of coverage litigation.
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Federal authorities open separate investigation tied to Sandusky and Penn State
The Patriot-News reported that federal prosecutors had subpoenaed records in a separate investigation involving Sandusky, Penn State and The Second Mile.
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Jerry Sandusky's criminal trial begins in Bellefonte
Sandusky's trial opened in Centre County, with prosecutors presenting testimony from men who said he abused them as boys.
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Jury convicts Jerry Sandusky on 45 of 48 counts of child sexual abuse
A Centre County jury found Sandusky guilty of 45 counts involving the abuse of 10 boys over 15 years, and he was jailed pending sentencing.
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Freeh Report finds top Penn State officials concealed Sandusky allegations
The Freeh investigation concluded that Paterno, Spanier, Curley and Schultz showed disregard for child victims and concealed facts about Sandusky to avoid bad publicity. Paterno's family and the accused officials disputed the findings.
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Penn State removes Joe Paterno statue outside Beaver Stadium
President Rodney Erickson ordered the statue of Joe Paterno taken down in the wake of the Freeh Report's findings.
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NCAA fines Penn State $60 million, imposes bowl ban and vacates 111 wins
Under a consent decree, the NCAA fined Penn State $60 million, banned its football team from the postseason for four years, cut scholarships and vacated wins dating to 1998.
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Accreditor places Penn State on warning over scandal
The Middle States Commission on Higher Education warned that Penn State's accreditation was in jeopardy over governance and integrity issues raised by the scandal. The warning was lifted later that year.
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Penn State hires Feinberg firm to handle possible settlements with abuse claimants
The university retained Feinberg Rozen LLP, led by mediator Kenneth Feinberg, to help resolve civil claims from people abused by Sandusky.
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Mike McQueary sues Penn State, alleging whistleblower retaliation and defamation
Former assistant coach Mike McQueary sued Penn State, claiming he was mistreated and defamed after he reported the 2001 shower incident and testified against Sandusky.
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Sandusky sentenced to 30 to 60 years in prison
A judge sentenced Sandusky to 30 to 60 years in state prison and designated him a sexually violent predator.
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Penn State declines to renew athletic director Tim Curley's contract
Penn State said it would not renew the contract of Curley, who had been on leave since being charged in 2011.
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Ex-Penn State president Graham Spanier charged; new counts filed against Curley and Schultz
The state attorney general charged Spanier with perjury, obstruction, conspiracy and child endangerment, and added obstruction and endangerment counts against Curley and Schultz.
2013
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Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett sues NCAA over Penn State sanctions
Corbett filed a federal antitrust lawsuit seeking to overturn the NCAA's sanctions against Penn State, calling them unlawful and overreaching.
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Judge denies Sandusky's request for a new trial
The trial judge rejected Sandusky's post-sentencing motions seeking a new trial, clearing the way for his direct appeal.
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Attorney General Kane appoints special investigator to review handling of Sandusky probe
Newly elected Attorney General Kathleen Kane named former federal prosecutor Geoffrey Moulton to examine how her predecessors, including then-AG Tom Corbett, conducted the Sandusky investigation.
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Paterno family releases report challenging Freeh's findings
A review commissioned by Paterno's family, including work by former Gov. Dick Thornburgh, called the Freeh Report's conclusions about Paterno unsupported.
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Penn State sues insurer over coverage of Sandusky-related claims
Penn State sued Pennsylvania Manufacturers' Association Insurance Co., seeking to force the insurer to cover settlements with people abused by Sandusky.
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Paterno family and others file lawsuit against the NCAA
Paterno's estate, along with some trustees, faculty and former players, sued the NCAA in Centre County, arguing the sanctions based on the Freeh Report violated NCAA rules.
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Federal judge dismisses Corbett's antitrust suit against the NCAA
A federal judge in Harrisburg threw out the governor's lawsuit challenging the Penn State sanctions.
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Graham Spanier files libel action against Louis Freeh
Spanier initiated a libel and defamation case in Centre County against Freeh over the report's conclusions about his role.
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Judge orders Spanier, Curley and Schultz to stand trial
After a preliminary hearing, a district judge ruled prosecutors had presented enough evidence for the three former administrators to face trial on cover-up related charges.
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First civil settlement reached between Penn State and a Sandusky victim
A man identified in court papers as Victim 5 completed the first settlement with Penn State after nearly a year of negotiations.
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NCAA begins restoring Penn State football scholarships
Citing progress reported by monitor George Mitchell, the NCAA said it would gradually return scholarships cut under the 2012 sanctions.
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Pennsylvania Superior Court rejects Sandusky's appeal
A three-judge Superior Court panel ruled that Sandusky was not entitled to a new trial, rejecting claims about trial preparation time and prosecutorial remarks.
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Penn State agrees to pay $59.7 million to 26 Sandusky claimants
Penn State announced settlements totaling $59.7 million with 26 young men who said Sandusky abused them, with several other claims still pending.
2014
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Attorney general's review finds no political delay in Sandusky prosecution
The Moulton report found no evidence that then-AG Tom Corbett deliberately slowed the Sandusky investigation for political reasons, though Attorney General Kane criticized its pace.
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NCAA lifts Penn State's postseason ban early
The NCAA Executive Committee ended the football postseason ban two years early and said full scholarships would return, citing the university's reforms.
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Emails show NCAA officials questioned their authority to punish Penn State
Emails released in a state senator's lawsuit showed NCAA staff had doubted whether the association had jurisdiction to sanction Penn State over the Sandusky case.
2015
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NCAA settlement restores 111 Paterno wins and keeps $60 million fine in Pennsylvania
Settling a lawsuit by state Sen. Jake Corman, the NCAA restored the vacated wins and agreed the $60 million fine would fund child abuse prevention programs in Pennsylvania.
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Court orders Sandusky's state pension restored
A Commonwealth Court panel ruled the State Employees' Retirement Board wrongly revoked Sandusky's roughly $4,900-a-month pension.
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Penn State's Sandusky settlements total about $93 million
University financial disclosures showed Penn State had paid nearly $93 million to settle claims from 33 people abused by Sandusky.
2016
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Appeals court throws out some charges against Spanier, Curley and Schultz
The Superior Court dismissed perjury, obstruction and conspiracy charges after finding the university's former general counsel improperly testified before the grand jury, leaving child endangerment counts intact.
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Sandusky's Second Mile charity dissolves with court approval
A judge approved the dissolution of The Second Mile, the youth charity Sandusky founded, after it had wound down its programs following his arrest.
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Insurance case filing alleges Paterno was told of Sandusky abuse in 1976
A judge's order in Penn State's coverage dispute with its insurer referenced an allegation that a boy complained to Paterno about Sandusky in 1976. Paterno's family disputed the claim.
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Unsealed records detail claims that Penn State coaches heard of Sandusky abuse decades earlier
Documents unsealed in the insurance litigation included testimony alleging that Paterno and other coaches were told of abuse by Sandusky as early as the 1970s and 1980s. The claims were untested in court.
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Penn State settles coverage fight with its insurer
Penn State and insurer PMA settled their litigation over who would pay for Sandusky-related settlements, ending a case that had surfaced new allegations.
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Jury awards Mike McQueary $7.3 million in defamation case against Penn State
A Centre County jury found Penn State liable for defaming and misrepresenting McQueary and awarded him $7.3 million.
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Education Department fines Penn State record $2.4 million for Clery Act violations
After a five-year investigation, the Department of Education issued a record Clery Act fine, finding Penn State failed to properly report campus crimes and warn of threats, including in the Sandusky matter.
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Judge rules for McQueary on whistleblower claim, adding $5 million in damages
A judge found Penn State retaliated against McQueary under the state whistleblower law and awarded about $5 million more, bringing the total to roughly $12 million.
2017
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Curley and Schultz plead guilty to misdemeanor child endangerment
Former athletic director Tim Curley and former vice president Gary Schultz pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of endangering the welfare of children, and agreed to testify at Spanier's trial.
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Jury convicts Graham Spanier of one count of child endangerment
A Dauphin County jury found former president Spanier guilty of a misdemeanor child endangerment count over his handling of the 2001 report, while acquitting him of conspiracy and a second endangerment count.
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Spanier, Curley and Schultz sentenced to jail terms
A judge sentenced the three former administrators to jail terms of at least two months each, followed by house arrest, for failing to alert authorities about the 2001 allegation.
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Paterno family drops lawsuit against the NCAA
Paterno's estate, his son Jay and a former assistant discontinued their suit against the NCAA over its use of the Freeh Report; the NCAA said no payment was made.
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Curley and Schultz report to jail
The two former administrators surrendered at the Centre County Correctional Facility to begin their sentences.
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Judge denies Sandusky's bid for a new trial under post-conviction law
After hearings on claims of ineffective counsel and other issues, a judge rejected Sandusky's post-conviction petition for a new trial.
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McQueary ends whistleblower lawsuit after settlement with Penn State
McQueary and Penn State resolved his litigation, ending appeals of the roughly $12 million judgment; terms were not immediately disclosed.
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Penn State's Sandusky-related costs exceed a quarter-billion dollars
New payments of about $16 million raised Penn State's total settlements with Sandusky claimants to about $109 million, and overall scandal costs to more than $250 million.
2018
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Penn State settles suit alleging Sandusky abuse in 2007
Penn State settled a lawsuit by an anonymous plaintiff who alleged Sandusky abused him in 2007, shortly before the case was set for trial.
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Spanier loses state appeal of child endangerment conviction
A Pennsylvania Superior Court panel upheld Spanier's misdemeanor conviction.
2019
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Appeals court denies Sandusky new trial but orders resentencing
The Superior Court rejected Sandusky's bid for a new trial but ruled his sentence improperly applied mandatory minimums and ordered him resentenced.
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Penn State to receive $733,000 from defunct Second Mile charity
Under an agreement overseen by the state attorney general's office, Penn State was to collect funds from the dissolved Second Mile toward its Sandusky-related costs.
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Federal magistrate judge overturns Spanier's conviction
A day before Spanier was due to report to jail, a federal magistrate judge vacated his conviction, finding he was improperly prosecuted under a law that took effect after the 2001 conduct.
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Pennsylvania Supreme Court declines to review Sandusky decision
The state's highest court declined to hear Sandusky's appeal of the Superior Court ruling that denied him a new trial, leaving resentencing pending.
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Penn State investigates new abuse allegation against Sandusky
Penn State police logged a report alleging Sandusky sexually assaulted a visitor in the Lasch Football Building between 2000 and 2010; the allegation was unproven.
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Sandusky resentenced to the same 30 to 60 years in prison
A visiting judge imposed the same 30-to-60-year prison term at Sandusky's resentencing in Bellefonte.
2020
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Judge rejects Sandusky's request for shorter sentence
The judge denied Sandusky's motion to reconsider the reimposed 30-to-60-year sentence.
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Penn State resolves outstanding disputes with the Paterno family
Penn State agreed to cover some Paterno family expenses and settled a 2014 lawsuit by Jay Paterno, with the family agreeing not to push for further review of the scandal.
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Federal appeals court reinstates Spanier's child endangerment conviction
The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled the lower court had improperly vacated Spanier's misdemeanor conviction.
2021
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Spanier ordered to serve two months in jail
After his appeals ran out, Spanier was ordered to serve two months in county jail followed by house arrest.
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Spanier released from jail after serving 58 days
Spanier was released from the Centre County Correctional Facility after serving nearly all of his two-month sentence.
2023
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Sandusky files new post-conviction appeal in Centre County
Sandusky's lawyers filed another petition challenging his conviction, which prosecutors opposed.
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Judge denies Sandusky's latest request for a new trial
A judge rejected Sandusky's petition, which argued new evidence undermined testimony based on recovered memories.
2025
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Sandusky files appeal alleging new evidence of prosecutorial misconduct
Sandusky, still maintaining his innocence, filed a new petition claiming prosecutors coached witnesses and that a medical condition limited him physically. Prosecutors have contested his repeated appeals.
2026
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Court filings say one Sandusky accuser signed affidavit recanting testimony
Sandusky's lawyers said one of the trial witnesses signed an affidavit recanting, and a judge set an evidentiary hearing; the attorney general's office called the recantation highly suspect.
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Sandusky seeks to cancel recantation hearing and take case to federal court
Sandusky's lawyers asked to cancel the scheduled hearing, and Sandusky said in a prison recording that he wanted to pursue his claims in federal court.
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Sandusky forgoes recantation testimony as lawyers prepare federal bid
Appearing remotely from prison, Sandusky told a judge he agreed with his lawyers not to present the recanting accuser's testimony as they prepare to seek a new trial in federal court.