By Lindsey Tugman
Today's THV
November 14, 2011
http://www.todaysthv.com/news/article/180472/288/Sandusky-home-on-bail-but-lives-near-elementary-school
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| Jerry Sandusky |
STATE COLLEGE, PA (CNN) -- Former Penn State University football coach Jerry Sandusky is out on bail. He's accused of sexually abusing at least eight kids over a 15-year period. A judge told him to stay away from kids, but Sandusky lives right next to an elementary school. Many parents are worried.
When he was charged with 40 counts of sexually abusing children, Jerry Sandusky was released on $100,000 bail.
One condition, the former Penn State defensive coordinator was told not to go near children. But check out where his house is located. Sandusky has a clear view of the Lemont Elementary School playground from his back porch.
The administrators at the elementary school say local police reached out to them following Sandusky's arrest.
The district's superintendent is quoted saying the school which runs through the second grade has taken additional administrative action to ensure our children are safe.
To be clear, Sandusky's never been accused of harming random children. Rather, the is alleged to have molested young boys after developing close relationships with them through Second Mile, the charity he founded. Sandusky's maintained his innocence.
The road to his home is blocked off and private property signs on his lawn went up this weekend, after police say a cinderblock was thrown through a window.
Nearby neighbors question why he is out on bail. One neighbor says, "It baffles my mind." Another says, "I think the presumption of innocence... we all like to believe in that and we do in this country. But I think there's a level of protection that a neighborhood and community is entitled to."
Melissa and Carl Anderson have two little boys. Carl was such a fan of Sandusky's at one time that he had an autographed, limited edition copy of Sandusky's book "Touched." Carl says, "For me, at least it alternates between anger and sadness. It really is a loss of wholesale community innocence."
The Andersons, for one, want to see a stiffer bail. And now, a new revelation about the judge who set the bail.
The judge's former law firm listed her as a volunteer for Second Mile. CNN's legal analyst Jeffrey Toobins says, "The judge, certainly, should have raised the issue, disclosed her connection to Second Mile so that the parties in the case could decide if they wanted her to recuse herself."
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