Misled Justice: How Sandusky Became a Scapegoat in a Flawed System (part 1)

Jerry Sandusky, 80, is a victim of Pennsylvania’s justice system. People think Sandusky must be guilty, because there were ten alleged “victims” of underage sexual abuse. Of the 10, only eight appeared at trial. All were over the age of 18 by the time they testified. Six were over 21. None ever reported abuse when it allegedly occurred.

Due Process

Judge Cleland decided Sandusky did not have the right to confront two of the “victims.” The jury did not know their names. Even the judge did not know their names. They were mystery victims.

One of these absent victims never existed. The other hid during the trial so the defense would not call him, and simultaneously he would not lose his chance of making millions from Penn State. He hid because he had told police, newspapers, and through a sworn affidavit that Sandusky had never abused him. Then he met with a civil lawyer, Andrew Shubin, who persuaded him he was throwing away millions. So he hid. And he collected $6.9 million, which he split with his lawyer. “Victim” #2 is is Allan Myers.

Prosecutorial Misconduct

The prosecutor, Joe McGettigan, lied to the jury when he said the identity of “Victim #2” (Myers) was only known to God – unless, of course, McGettigan thought he was God. He played God over the lives of several people. From my perspective, McGettigan acted more like a devil.

Origins of the Accusation

McGettigan came late to the lynching of Jerry Sandusky.

The case began with a 15-year-old boy lying to his mother. The lad probably did not understand the enormity of his lie, or the consequences. He had lied many times to his mother and got away with it. He did not intend this lie to destroy so many lives, including his own.

He just wanted to spend the night with a friend, smoke marijuana, try to get a teenage girl for sex and, in the absence of a girl, watch porn – all things he could not do at Sandusky’s home. To get out of going to Sandusky’s, where his mentor and benefactor would pressure him to honor a commitment he made to help with Sandusky’s charity The Second Mile, and worse, go to church on Sunday, he told his mother that Sandusky made him feel uncomfortable.

He implied that the gregarious Sandusky, who hugged, patted and sometimes embraced neglected and forlorn children – as Fisher had been – had a “creepy” possibly sexual overtone.

This was the boy who was so affection starved just a few years earlier that he would run and jump in Jerry’s lap and cling to him – possibly because the only men his mother ever brought to the house abused him.

This was the boy who wore tatters, whose clothes were rags and ill-fitting. Sandusky, out of mercy, provided him with decent clothes to go to church. And gave him sneakers from the rich supply Nike provided Sandusky as promotional wares. He once gave him a gift of some used golf clubs – a donation from the Second Mile – because Fisher had helped with a golf tournament for the Second Mile.

These gifts were later used against Sandusky, as if it were a sinister ploy to groom Aaron Fisher.

Yes, Sandusky gave him gifts. The boy lamented once that he had no computer. Everyone else in school had a computer, but him. There was a used computer that someone had donated to The Second Mile, and Sandusky gave it to the boy in return for some little service he did helping Sandusky at the charity.

The Lie

In November 2008, Fisher was no longer interested in helping Sandusky help other boys, as he had once been helped. He thought a little lie would work to get his planned evening of fun with his friend. He did not understand that his lie would unleash terrible forces that would bring together unbelievably cruel and selfish  people to lie together, not always knowing the others were lying, but always knowing they, themselves, were lying.

An Avalanche of Lies

All eight accusers who testified lied—everyone. Here are the pictures, so you can see the face of lies.

Eight men took the opportunity to make up stories about Jerry Sandusky, knowing their fortunes were assured. Everyone knew before they told their lies on the witness stand that Penn State would deliver millions unto them. All they had to do was lie about Sandusky. They knew they’d be believed. They were encouraged by police and prosecutors driven by ambition, natural cruelty, and an absence of justice in their hearts, and by civil lawyers whose scruples were as low as their clients.

Some accusers justified their lying by the convenient thought that the other accusers were possibly not lying. Since Sandusky is guilty of abusing the others, their reasoning went, they might just as well cash in with a million dollar lie. After all, Penn State could afford it.

Everyone profited off of one innocent man, Jerry Sandusky, who dedicated his time to helping troubled youth. Sandusky cared about helping teens get on the right path, and some of them did.

Among the boys he tried to help were 15-year-old Aaron Fisher. He started the snowball rolling. A lie can be like a snowball. Be careful where you throw it. One little lie told by one little, almost pathological liar who lied to his mother, and everyone was swept away – including he – in an avalanche.

Aaron Fisher, now 30, and in trouble again and again – (arrested, stabbed, caught drunk driving, involved in domestics, exposed for vandalizing cars, etc.) for the fates are catching up with him.

He was born under a bad star. Or had the devil’s curse, or was under some baneful witch’s spell, for he had the inordinately wicked luck to be the start of something colossally unjust.

And while he had his instant fix – his quick reward – yes, he got $7.5 million – split with his attorney – but that money is gone or almost gone – and he must now rue the barren harvest he has sown.

His attorney already faced his day of reckoning.  The man who egged him on and showed the lad and his mother the green pathway, not caring much if it was truth or fiction, surrendered his life by committing suicide two years ago.

In our next post, we will show the boy who lied and how he told his lie that destroyed so many and helped none. All the accusers that followed merely riffed off his lie. And Joe McGettigan, that devil of a prosecutor, along with the deceitful prosecutors, Frank Fina and Jonelle Eschbach, were there to help coach them every inch of the way.

Frank Parlato

Frank Parlato is an investigative journalist, media strategist, publisher, and legal consultant.

Frank Parlato

Frank Parlato is an investigative journalist, media strategist, publisher, and legal consultant.

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