Former Penn State president charged with conspiracy related to Sandusky child abuse case

In this photo taken on Oct. 8, 2011 former Pennsylvania State University President Graham Spanier (left) chats with former head football coach Joe Paterno before an NCAA college football game against / AP Photo

Former Pennsylvania State University President Graham Spanier on Thursday was criminally charged for conspiring to conceal information involving child sexual abuse allegations against former Penn State assistant football coach Gerald A. Sandusky.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Linda Kelly and Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner Frank Noonan said in a statement that Mr. Spanier conspired with other top school officials to conceal information about Mr. Sandusky's alleged child sexual abuse. He's also accused of obstructing the criminal investigation into the case, perjury before a grand jury, and endangering the welfare of children, among other crimes.

Mr. Spanier is charged with second-degree misdemeanors and could face up to two years in prison and $5,000 in fines, according to the statement.

Mr. Sandusky in June was found guilty of 45 of 48 child sexual abuse counts involving 10 victims over 18 years, often on Penn State property.

Former university Senior Vice President of Finance and Business Gary Schultz and former Athletic Director Timothy Curley on Thursday faced new criminal charges filed against them for also concealing information about suspected child abuse involving Mr. Sandusky, according to the statement.

Messrs. Schultz and Curley last year were charged with perjury and failure to report in connection with the Sandusky case. Both stepped down from their positions after the grand jury's report in November 2011. Their perjury case is set to begin Jan. 7.

“This was a conspiracy of silence by top officials at Penn State, working to actively conceal the truth, with total disregard to the suffering of children," Attorney General Kelly said in the statement.

As a result of Messrs. Spanier's, Schultz's and Curley's failure to do what was legally required, at least four victims were attacked between 2001 and 2008, she said.

Penn State's credit rating this month was downgraded and its outlook revised to negative as the embattled university was hit with its fifth civil lawsuit involving the Sandusky scandal.

Penn State has a captive insurer, Nittany Insurance Co., formed in Vermont in 1993. Coverage provided by the captive includes general and professional liability, according to Penn State's website.

The university has previously said it expects its general liability and directors and officers insurance policies to cover the defense claims brought against the school, its officers, employees and trustees.

Penn State did not immediately return requests for comment.