Date change in Sandusky case could drop a charge
Prosecutors changed the date they allege former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky sexually abused a boy in the team's showers, which may result in one of the charges against team administrators being dropped.
The attorney general's office on March 30 stated in a court document about Tim Curley and Gary Schultz in failing to report suspected child abuse that the statute of limitations had not expired because the assault of one of the alleged victims took place in March 2002.
However, on Tuesday, prosecutors requested to change the date to February 2001, which was granted by Judge John Cleland. Legal experts said that the amended date for failing to report the abuse would fall outside of the statute of limitations by nine months, CBS Sports reported on Saturday.
Tom Farrell, Schultz's lawyer, said in a statement that he agreed with those experts.
"Based on the prosecution's own pleading, the statute of limitations is 10 years from the event," Farrell said. "There is no dispute that the statute of limitations has expired on the failure to report count."
The attorney general's office declined to comment on whether any charges against Curley or Schultz would be dropped.
Failure-to-report charges carry up to 90 days in jail and a $200 fine under Pennsylvania's Child Protective Services Law.
Curley, the school's athletic director who is one leave, and Schultz, a retired administrator, also face felony perjury counts for lying to a grand jury. That could result in seven years in jail and a $15,000 fine if convicted.
It is not known how the date change affects Sandusky, who has been charged with 52 counts of alleged abuse against 10 boys over a 15-year period. His trial is scheduled to begin June 5.
