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| Abuse Victim, Local Attorneys Pull for Change By Phil Ray Altoona Mirror November 13, 2011 http://www.altoonamirror.com/page/content.detail/id/555379/Abuse-victim--local-attorneys-pull-for-change.html?nav=742 A child puts his trust in people - the parish priest, the football coach, the teacher, the grandfather - according to Brian Gergely of Ebensburg. When that role model and authority figure violates the trust by committing sexual offenses against the child, it is devastating. The youngster may remain in denial for years and repress his memories of what occurred. That can lead to additional problems, said Gergely. Gergely knows all too well about that. In his case, he became rebellious toward authority. He admitted to driving under the influence and fighting. Gergely talked about his experience as a child abuse victim and his lifelong quest to confront his past and move on with his life following the announcement Monday by Pennsylvania Attorney General Linda Kelly that 40 child sexual abuse charges involving eight children were filed against retired Penn State defensive coordinator and The Second Mile founder Jerry Sandusky. The charges against Sandusky and two other Penn State officials involved in an alleged coverup, Athletic Director Timothy Curley and Senior Vice President Gary Schultz, rocked the university and the sports world. The university's Board of Trustees terminated Penn State President Graham Spanier and legendary football coach Joe Paterno for not doing all they could to expose the incidents. Gergely, 40, was one of many individuals who came forward in the early 2000s to report sexual abuse by priests in the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown. During that time, Gergely, now a college graduate and behavioral specialist, said he served as a consultant to many church victims. He is also working on a book called "The Lost Altar Boy," about his abuse. As for the Sandusky case, Gergely cut Paterno some slack and advised Sandusky's victims to come forward and report what occurred. He added that victims of child abuse must take steps to forgive their perpetrators or they will continue to suffer throughout their lives, even if they receive financial settlements. Paterno, who was told by graduate assistant Mike McQueary in 2002 that he had witnessed Sandusky abusing a child, reported the incident to Curley and Schultz, but it went no further. The coach has come under fierce criticism in the past week and admitted he should have done more. Gergely likened Paterno to the pope, noting "He can't keep track of all of his bishops." Paterno, when he spoke outside his home earlier this week, said he was praying for the victims. Gergely said he believes Paterno is genuine and called him "an innocent-type of guy." "He probably was in denial himself," he said. Gergely said one of the toughest things for a victim to do is come forward to speak to authorities. When he served as a consultant in the church cases, he said, "Nobody would come forward. They were in such denial about it, those repressed feelings." The investigation in the Sandusky case included two incidents of child sexual abuse that were observed by witnesses, one of whom testified before the statewide grand jury. So far, the victims in those two cases have not come forward. Gergely encouraged them to speak to authorities. It's his opinion that "any victim who doesn't want to continue as a victim" should tell their stories to authorities, Gergely said. What is happening in the Penn State case - the arrests, the focus on child abuse - "is a good thing," he said. Back in the 1950s and 1960s, when many of the church cases occurred, perpetrators could get away with abuse. That may not be so any more. He believes Sandusky and the others will find justice sooner or later. He is advising victims to work through the pain and suffering, and maybe in the future, through their strength, they can help someone else. Blair County cases While the Penn State-Sandusky cases are receiving unprecedented news coverage throughout the nation, child abuse incidents and prosecutions are nothing new in the Altoona area. In a way, they demonstrate Gergely's point that police and prosecutors are responding to complaints by children who have been mistreated. In the past 13 months, some of those sent to jail by Blair County judges include:
Blair County Children, Youth & Family services investigates almost 400 child abuse cases - not all involving sexual abuse - annually. Focusing attention where needed Dan Kiss, who prosecutes most child sexual abuse cases for the Blair County District Attorney's Office and who sought and won a life sentence for Helsel, said he has learned that sexual abusers of children include the rich and the poor, the well-known and the average citizen within the community. Kiss said more of the spotlight should to be placed on child sexual abuse. Blair County Deputy District Attorney Jackie Bernard believes the Penn State scandal has done just that. "This case has ramifications much bigger than the case itself," Bernard said. While some of those involved in the Sandusky case, like Paterno, may not be criminally liable for not communicating what they knew directly to police, Bernard said, "There is a moral outrage to do more than is legally required." People are being encouraged to call 911 and children and youth services when they see something wrong. "What these cases bring to light is that one person can make a difference," she said. People often make a difference in a child's life by, for instance, becoming a Big Brother or Big Sister, but they can also make a difference by reporting something that doesn't seem right. "We have the resources to investigate," Bernard said. "Cases like this show that no one is above responsibility for his actions." Sandusky started his nonprofit organization, The Second Mile, to provide services for at-risk children. A grand jury presentment indicated that Sandusky's victims were Second Mile clients. "Those poor kids in The Second Mile needed a helping hand," she said. She said also the case could spur action to make failing to report an incident of child sexual abuse a more serious crime. Wade Kagarise, also a deputy district attorney in Blair County, said the Sandusky case should send a message to those in professions mandated to report suspected instances of child abuse. He said people in professions that deal with children on a regular basis are required to report suspected physical and sexual abuse. In Blair County, Kagarise said, there have been many instances of abuse cases reported by professionals. He said high-profile cases like the Sandusky case, hopefully, will show that law enforcement and prosecutors will pursue complaints. Prosecuting cases Kagarise said that child sexual abuse cases are among the most difficult to prosecute. The victims are very young and are traumatized by events. They may be psychologically unable to go through a trial, and the abuse may have happened a long time ago. There is often no medical evidence that can be presented, he said. And Kagarise said jurors don't want to believe these things happen. He said nobody walks around with a sign that says, "I am a rapist," meaning that the abuser could be someone with a good reputation or someone close to the victim. Kagarise said the prosecutors in the Blair District Attorney's Office work closely with Children, Youth and Family Services and the police, monitoring complaints and making sure cases get developed for presentation in court. One dream Kagarise has is to hire one or two detectives in his office to work with police throughout the county to develop child abuse prosecutions. The detectives would work with the child victims, look at all angles of a case and provide expert guidance for police, he said. Another thing the District Attorney's Office could do, Kagarise said, is make sure the victims get the treatment they need. Contact: pray@altoonamirror.com |
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