Jerry Sandusky Will Receive Penn State Pension Regardless Of Verdict in Child Sex Abuse Trial
Regardless of the verdict of his sex abuse trial, Jerry Sandusky will receive his $58,898-a-year pension from Penn State University.
None of the sexual abuse crimes charged against Sandusky are included in the state's Public Employee Pension Forfeiture Act as crimes that would discontinue his pension, Philadelphia Daily News reports.
The state law lists 21 crimes in which an employee can lose a pension if committed.
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Murder and rape, however, are not on the list. Since Sandusky’s Nov. 5 charge, there have been no hearings on bills pending which would prohibit state employed sex offenders from receiving state pensions.
A bill that would require some convicted child-sex offenders to forfeit a state pension passed in the House without a vote of opposing in June, but it still has not gotten a hearing in the Senate.
A bill that would disallow pensions from state employees who were convicted of, or pleaded guilty to, endangering the welfare of children and corruption of minors in employment, has been stuck in the Senate's State Government Committee since June 21.
Sen. Anthony Williams of Philadelphia said he doesn't know why the bill is still in committee.
"I cannot imagine this bill would not see quick expedition if brought up for a vote," he said.
If the bill passes it would apply to Sandusky as 20 of the 52 charges against him entail endangering the welfare of children or corruption of minors.
There is also legislation in House and Senate committees that would make all public employees or officials found guilty of an offense that requires registration as a sex offender unable to receive state pension.
It is called Megan's Law.
The legislation was introduced by Philadelphia Democrats, Rep. Brendan Boyle and Sen. Larry Farnese, and has also remained in the Senate Finance Committee and the House State Government Committee since October.
