Two Penn State officials step down in wake of sex-abuse scandal

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Two Penn State officials facing charges in connection with sex-abuse allegations involving former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky have decided to step down following an emergency session of the university’s board of trustees.

Penn State Athletic Director Tim Curley has asked for a leave of absence and Gary Schultz, vice president for finance and business, will go back into retirement as they face charges of covering up allegations against Sandusky, a longtime defensive coordinator who retired in 1999.

Sandusky is charged with sexually abusing eight boys over a 15-year period. Curley and Schultz have been charged with failing to report that a witness told them he saw Sandusky sexually abusing a naked boy in the locker room showers in 2002. All three men facing charges have said they are innocent.

The charges have rocked what had been considered a clean program run by legendary Coach Joe Paterno, who has more wins than any other NCAA Division I coach with 409. Paterno earlier in the day released a statement saying he was shocked and saddened by the allegations. A university spokesman said the possibility of resignations by Paterno and President Graham Spanier was not discussed Sunday night.

Sandusky, once considered Paterno’s heir apparent, used the school’s facilities to work with a foundation, the Second Mile, he established to help at-risk kids. Curley and Schultz were accused of failing to alert police of their investigation into the allegations as required by state law.

“This is a case about a sexual predator who used his position within the university and community to repeatedly prey on young boys,” state Atty. General Linda Kelly said Saturday.

-- Dan Loumena

Associated Press contributed to this report.

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