Jury selection begins in Penn State ex-president’s trial
HARRISBURG, Pa. — Jury selection began Monday in the trial of Penn State’s former president on charges that he put children at risk by mishandling child sex abuse complaints about retired assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky.
Graham Spanier declined to comment as he entered a Harrisburg courthouse for a trial that could last a week or more. It also might bring to the stand two former top lieutenants who recently struck plea bargains.
Jury selection was off to a slow start as lawyers finalize questions the potential jurors will be asked about sexual abuse and other sensitive topics.
Spanier, 68, is accused of two counts of endangering the welfare of children and a single conspiracy charge, all felonies. Former vice-president Gary Schultz and former athletic director Tim Curley pleaded guilty last week to a single misdemeanour count of child endangerment, and they await sentencing.