3 top Penn State officials get jail time related to Sandusky case

Three former top Penn State officials have received jail time for failing to properly report Jerry Sandusky’s sexual abuse of children. 

The sentences for former university president Graham Spanier, athletic director Tim Curley, and vice president Gary Schultz come six years after Sandusky’s arrest.

Judge John Boccabella summed up his remarks by calling the whole case “a Shakespearian tragedy,” and characterized Spanier, Curley, and Schultz as “good men who made mistakes.”

After the character witnesses had finished speaking and the defendants had repeatedly expressed their remorse, Boccabella sentenced all three of them to short prison terms.

Spanier was given four to 12 months — two to be served in jail, the rest under house arrest.

Schultz got six to 23 months, and like Spanier, will spend two in jail.

Curley’s time behind bars will be the longest — his sentence is seven to 23 months, with three of those in jail.

All three men are also facing two years of probation and 200 hours of community service. Schultz and Curley are mandated to pay $5,000 fines, and Spanier will pay $7,500.

None of the three defendants made comments as they left the courthouse, and their lawyers declined to say whether they’ll be appealing.