Earlier today it was reported that the number of alleged victims in the Jerry Sandusky child sexual abuse scandal had increased by one, climbing from the eight mentioned in the grand jury’s indictment to nine after a male in his 20s came forward to the state police Sunday.
Reportedly, the number of victims alleging sexual abuse at the hands of the former Penn State defensive coordinator is actually double the number it was this morning.
FOX 29 in Philadelphia is reporting this evening that the number of potential victims is now closer to 20 following a spate of new allegations of sexual abuse. During a press conference Monday, state law enforcement officials publicized phone numbers for potential victims or tipsters to call. Those calls have left investigators with new leads to follow and, apparently, additional alleged victims.
A preliminary hearing that was set for Wednesday has been rescheduled for Dec. 7.
It remains unclear at this time when head coach Joe Paterno, or any other high-ranking school official such as president Graham Spanier for that matter, will publicly address the flood of criticism the university has received for its handling of allegations that date back to the nineties, and have also led to reports that this will be Paterno’s last season on the sidelines. A regularly scheduled press conference for today was canceled less than an hour before it was scheduled to begin, although there’s speculation one could take place tomorrow.
In lieu of that cancellation, however, Paterno held an impromptu “press conference” with students and fans who gathered outside of his home tonight in a show of support for the legendary coach. Here’s the YouTube video of that surreal scene, courtesy of CrossingBroad.com.