Jerry Sandusky Appeals His Conviction

The Penn State scandal that erupted back in 2012 was a heartbreaking, upsetting story. The allegations against Jerry Sandusky involved sexual abuse against children.

According to CNN.com, Sandusky is “seeking to overturn his conviction, claiming defense lawyers bungled the 2012 trial in which he was found guilty of sexually abusing 10 boys and sentenced to at least 30 years in prison.” Although this case and the entire story are upsetting, there are some important things we can glean about protecting our children from this type of situation.

What Can We Learn From The Penn State Scandal?

There are a number of important lessons we can take away from the Penn State story in terms of protecting our children from this type of unthinkable abuse:

• Do not assume someone is trustworthy: Jerry Sandusky used one of the most common methods employed by this type of predator: using public stature and influence as a vehicle for grooming kids for sexual abuse. It is common for people in positions of public leadership and trust to gain access to kids without arousing suspicion. Do not assume someone is trustworthy with your kids just because they are in the public eye.
• Be suspicious if an adult is spending inordinate amounts of time with your child: Really, any adult who spends significant time with children who are not their own kids should be seen with some degree of suspicion.
• Make sure you hire a great attorney: Although Sandusky’s appeal claims ineffectual representation in the criminal conviction, the salient point remains: The stakes are extremely high, so make sure you work with an experienced lawyer who knows how to handle this unique type of case.

Do anything you can to protect your children. If you or someone you love has been hurt by a trusted authority figure on a sports team, scouting group, church group or other organization – or even if you are suspicious about some relationship between a child and adult – talk with an experienced child sexual abuse attorney who can help you protect your rights. Contact Soloff & Zervanos Personal Injury Attorneys