Penn State University
65 reports indexed, newest first.
September 2026
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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.
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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.
August 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.
October 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.
July 2023
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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.
January 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.
August 2021
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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.
May 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.
December 2020
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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.
February 2020
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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.
January 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.
November 2019
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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.
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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.
July 2019
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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.
April 2019
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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.
February 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.
June 2018
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Spanier loses state appeal of child endangerment conviction
A Pennsylvania Superior Court panel upheld Spanier's misdemeanor conviction.
January 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.
November 2017
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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.
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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.
October 2017
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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.
July 2017
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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.
June 2017
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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.
March 2017
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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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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.
November 2016
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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.
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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.
October 2016
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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.
September 2016
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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.
July 2016
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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.
May 2016
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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.
January 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.
November 2015
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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.
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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.
October 2013
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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.
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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.
August 2013
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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.
July 2013
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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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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.
March 2013
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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.
February 2013
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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.
January 2013
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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.
October 2012
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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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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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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.
September 2012
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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.
August 2012
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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.
July 2012
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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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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.
June 2012
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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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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.
February 2012
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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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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.
January 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.
December 2011
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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.
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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.
November 2011
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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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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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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 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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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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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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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.
March 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.