Nittany Nightmare Continues Past Sandusky: Former President Spanier Charged- NEW Charges for Curley and Schultz Filed
Happy Valley- PA On the heels of convicted child molester Jerry Sandusky’s transfer to his new home, what most predicted would follow- has.
Former Penn State President Graham Spanier, fired by the Penn State Board of Trust the same day as legendary late-Nittany Lions Coach Joe Paterno, is facing serious charges today filed by Sandusky’s prosecutors.
Spanier is facing counts of obstruction of justice, perjury, conspiracy, endangering the welfare of children and failure to report allegations of child abuse.
Tim Curley and Gary Schultz, who were facing perjury and charges based on “non-reporting”, are now facing all five similar charges as Spanier- additional filings occurred simultaneously.
Linda L. Kelly stated the men “used their positions to conceal and cover up for years the activities of a known child predator,” on Thursday following the announcement.
Please check back to www.blinkoncrime for this developing story.
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now that finals are over, is it possible to dropbox any RTK product an anonymous provider shared?
Needn’t be meat; potatoes will do. I’m one of those cats driven by curiosity who meet an uncertain
fate.
Rose- I will do my best to review that and have it up this week- I appreciate your patience but given the climate I think it best to look at it and not just post it.
B
http://www.phillymag.com/articles/kathleen-kane-frank-fina/
@Rose,if Dershem is going to battle of wits with Parks Miller, it is like bringing a Frisbee to a knife fight.
all these 2 want is to get reelected to their longtime seats,
and the Dems are too dumb to coalese around a
writein to run on a joint ticket with Pipes for the one “Dem” seat.
And he’s too much the puppy following those 2 to think of it.
They blindsided him in the BoC mtg on 5/12 deliberately, he makes known on video,
with the cell phone ruse. He’s been treating them like bff’s.
I see there’s a late entry, Higgins.
Pipes & Higgins ought to be making political hay out of this–running as a team calling for bullet voting, criticizing County expenditures prompted by Ganz’ grandstanding for a law partner and providing flawed rtk advice. His contract performance was questioned long ago on his first renewal. Pipes & Higgins need to promise to have a thorough job performance review in all areas and evaluate his competence alongside other Soliciter applicants. That is, open it up.
Pipes has no affirmative plan to cure Soliciter issues; he seems to lay low hoping he’s not going to be involved by
plaintiffs.
lots of little stories about BoC mtg yesterday. Can’t figure Pipes out; doesn’t object to the others’ shenanigans or differentiate himself. This is the County governance climate in which Sandusky flourished. I’m thinking this climate bodes ill for Lee’s trials. He’s eager to go to trial; Fed prosecutor wants to delay. Critical witness seems a reluctant show up. At least a July 5 trial means he won’t be heading the Bellefonte 4th parade after getting off. Lee was a Dem, wasn’t he?
another be careful what you wish for.
Grine apparently sentenced a child sex abuser more toughly than Lunsford.
http://www.centredaily.com/2015/05/20/4758024/howard-man-convicted-of-child.html
This is precisely why no Judge ( or anyone) should ever remove docs from the docket file for any reason. Lux has no teeth without that and the case was sealed so it will be traceable to Lunsford, imo. It gives the APPEARANCE of impropriety whether there was bias or not, which in my view, she could not meet that burden in the first place.
B
I think the real crisis is between Kistler & the judges
he was screwing by not rightly administering the judicial
rtk statute in Centre Cty from its passage so the public defender office did not get
8 caseloads full of tweets, phones, texts among the judiciary in the first place.
Obviously someone removed these 2 exhibits believing they violated the rtk statute
and were the fruit of a poisonous tree. While Lunsford is a good bet, Grine last had
that case file. And the prothonotary (running for reelection & unlikely to be candid voluntarily)
and retired Court Administrator who was supposed to decide the judicial requests are candidates.
lustrous online grad and Masorti (employee? contractor?) Michelle Shutt “likes” the PD’s appeal:
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=483213691827383&id=424583014357118&refid=17&_ft_=top_level_post_id.483213691827383&__tn__=%2As
Sloane continues to look like the back-breaking accident included cognitive damage such that his continued employment until Miller terminated him was by grace.
Posting by the Courthouse demonstration leader J Adams is just plain scarey and he needs Homeland Security on him 24/7.
I think his delivery is hostile, and therefore not helpful and diluting, but his argument on Shutt is sound. He’s right, she had no idea whether Ruest could have given the “ok” or if she would just play along. She didn’t. She has said publicly she did not create nor sign that order. I don’t believe any of these types would be hanging their bacon out as they are if Shutt’s version of events were not true.
Assuming it is, this is a major credibility gaffe for her and her office and I can see why defense atty’s are freaking out. It’s their job really if they believe there is improper conduct affecting their practice outcomes. Now, Sloan using derogatory language is inappropriate and well, immature.
B
Michelle’s invested in the
broader defense attorney campaign
against Miller. Why?
Absolutely unresearched response here- train, tracks, can’t call it back.
B
http://www.statecollege.com/news/local-news/centre-county-right-to-know-dispute-continues-to-grow,1464101/
after missing in action from numerous BoC mtg videos, Glantz rears his politico-legal head
http://m.thelegalintelligencer.com/module/alm/app/pa.do#!/article/1744574889
@ Blink, the could have, and did state, at least for public discussion, that Parks Miller would resign. They also seem to have a grudge against Lunsford and could have been attempting to use this leverage. I think it exploded in their faces, but they didn’t know it would at the time.
This is the first time I have ever heard of a Judge removing specific documents from sealed cases within the prothonotary ( that were specific only to motions for recusal involving himself- all were denied BY HIM.) For me, that is plenty of leverage on a variety of levels when there is frequent contact with the DA and staff presumably that precipitates this to be foundation for an investigation, which I believe there was, and his reassignment. As a personal issue for me- I think Lee’s ARD in a victim based crime (children) and subsequent PO recommendation to revoke it on Lunsford’s watch was enough-
If Parks Miller forged a Judge’s signature and fake brief *for whatever reason* it breaches the integrity of her elected role and oath, and that is before the PA Bar gets involved in her sworn officer of the court. What would have happened if the defense counsel tried to pull that? He would be in jail- that’s what.
Bottom line- if SPM did what she was accused of, I don’t care if it is criminal, I care very much that it is unethical, and she has soiled the integrity of not just her practice, but that of her entire office and she had no right to do so unilaterally- by all accounts she is a brilliant attorney- nobody will convince me she did not entertain the risks involved. That is abuse of power on anyone’s scale.
To me, from Sandusky, TSM, PSU BOT and the current Centre County discussions and activity- there seems to have been a good ole boy climate ( floabw) which effectively had the rock removed from over it and what we are seeing is the combination of territory claims and purge. Regardless, it is my intention to point out that it is not a common situation from my perspective.
Disclosure: I was offered an internship that I had to decline in a neighboring county (DA) because of my coverage of these events.
B
I believe this was common office culture with this protho effected by a variety of actors (multiple judges or others) & her own sloppiness (imo a buried issue as she is running again for office), as indicated by the attorney fix it appointment
“This is the first time I have ever heard of a Judge removing specific documents from sealed cases within the prothonotary ( that were specific only to motions for recusal involving himself- all were denied BY HIM.) For me”
—-
“If Parks Miller forged a Judge’s signature and fake brief *for whatever reason*”
JJinPhila has posted the definition of forgery in this instance many times.
Even if SPM signed it, it doesn’t meet the definition. It is as likely
a righteous Ruest does not remember a sheaf of orders signed.
Imo the oft-let go and litigious (untruthfully imo wrt Dicks)
Shutt, deeply in student debt and scrabbling for income sources, lacks
credibility on any subject, much less with an employer who canned her.?
I am clear on the criminal statute definition Rose, thank you, I am referring to the ethical breaches as I see them. Just consider the mess this is in that county as a result. According to her aide, Ruest is firm that she did not manufacture or sign that bail reduction order. I don’t disagree that Shutt has credibility issues, but the fact remains, her allegation and supporting evidence resulted in search warrants, regardless of the constitutionality of who exercised them. I think SPM defense is going to be that she did not break the law, and she did what she did for investigative reasons, but I think her conduct may very well end her career. If Shutt fabricated any of this, I think she would have been charged in a heartbeat.
B
“Disclosure: I was offered an internship that I had to decline in a neighboring county (DA) because of my coverage of these events” Unfortunate on both sides. Just hit the pause button on coverage?
As for the Centre Cty protho, it is possible to underestimate small county general sloppiness at recordkeeping.
And the accuracy of small town judge’s memories when their prestige is at stake or their work product in controversy.
recaste Ruest as Baldwin, for example.
“To me, from Sandusky, TSM, PSU BOT and the current Centre County discussions and activity- there seems to have been a good ole boy climate”
And the good old girls? Peetz, K Genovese, Baldwin.
The good old boy to end all boys was Corbett.
Yes and he and Rendel despise one another.
B
in my opinion, Kane is another good ol girl, but I think SPM,
as a prosecutor, is beyond good.
http://cnet.pegcentral.com/player.php?video=0d95d38caf05b164744b213d00c39808
Boring cell discussion, lasting most of the mtg, begins at 19:12.
Solicitor Glantz remains MIA.
Exarchos gets a notPSU award for his remark about his nemesis SPM:
“They’re not asking for my cell phone record; they’re asking for hers.”
Maybe someone should get Exarchos’ & Dershem’s County cell records for a 6 month period beginning
7/1/14.
OK Blink, she get the official idiot award:
http://www.centredaily.com/2015/05/26/4765588_affidavit-points-to-texting-between.html?rh=1
—–
She needs to order up every text sent to any judge, redact names & identifying details, and put it all out there dating to early 2012.
—–
As for Lunsford, he should never have hit reply.
He should have marched straight into chambers with both attorneys,
& on the record disclosed her ex parte content,
reprimanded her, and reported her that day to Bar discipline.
Yep. From bad to worse this will go.
B
Article’s been updated bigtime
http://www.centredaily.com/2015/05/26/4765588_affidavit-points-to-texting-between.html?rh=1
ok, so let me get this straight- through Castor, SPM is denying any texts, Miller is swearing to Lunsford’s statements to her that they exist, and Lunsford admits texting SPM about her conduct- do I have that right?
And there’s the ex parte component, finally. Flat out- If a Judge and EITHER side of counsel is communicating about the instant matter, it is ex parte and it is clearly a violation of the bar and the Supreme Court of PA, period.
The conduct of counsel during trial is not something a Judge has the right to address outside of opposing counsel, ever. Or the defendant, for that matter.
Lastly- I have to say- are these people idiots? Because even if I had to use a LEA, if I have a person’s phone, I am going to produce their texts via warrant. And if they are syncing or backing up their phones for compliance purposes, it’s even easier.
B
well, Blink, fishy to me that she went private after 10 yrs in a retirement system.
She must itinerate to law offices & is dependent on private attorneys to feed her depisition etc business.
Imo there is more to her story of leaving Lunsford in Dec 2012.
https://www.linkedin.com/pub/maggie-miller/7b/a87/918
Im not sure she left, she may still do contract work.
B
http://www.statecollege.com/news/local-news/affidavit-alleges-judge-texted-da-during-trial,1464136/
Glantz says he & Cantorna are not particularly close.
—
They co-own a business & income stream, share office space for years.
Who IS Glantz close to then?
His son, whose work & development interests he’s represented before the County?
I’d like to know more about what appears to be an extensive local relative system wrt maggie. Husband is Scott.
I am reminded an elderly Scott Miller was once at Miller Kistler (Kistler appearing by now to have a rivalry with Lunsford.)
supposedly the Judge addressed attorney conduct in Court with an early callback.
never says he texted her about conduct.
Miller’s corroboration is her complaint at the time to
Judge’s secretary Joan P, who is still with him.
Snipped:
In an opinion regarding the McClure case filed last month, Lunsford wrote about the texts.
He said he texted Parks Miller during a lunch break about returning to the courtroom before the jury was seated to discuss the “attorneys’ conduct,” a text that Parks Miller did not answer.
Read more here: http://www.centredaily.com/2015/05/26/4765588_affidavit-points-to-texting-between.html?rh=1#storylink=cpy
To clarify, this is McClure, not Brooks.
B
http://www.statecollege.com/news/local-news/prosecutors-demand-court-deny-christopher-lees-requests-to-suppress-evidence-split-charges,1464155/
Yes, I thought it was a request to return to the Courtroom for a conduct discussion.
Clearly SPM has had a conduct disorder for awhile.
Ridiculous, this Judge should have had his secretary contact the parties.
Whatever happened to Judges’ Court Clerks in this County? All sorts of PA-based law schools to
barf them out & into a Clerk job. Maybe the BoC forgot to fund Court clerks.
I admit I am struggling with any off the record- off transcript “anything” during trial. Agreed- there is no direct contact with the Judge outside of the record, with the exception of whenever stip or statute allows, which does not apply here.
Can you imagine if there was a pro se litigant in the mix?
B
another Exec Session on the Agenda with no indication of subject matter
(legal,personnel, etc)
http://centrecountypa.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/06022015-295
http://www.wearecentralpa.com/story/d/story/former-football-player-wants-more-sandusky-charges/36152/OMR60AaOYkS9uYlevj0mbA
“Please be advised that a press conference will be held in the matter of *** v. Kathleen G. Kane, Attorney General of Pennsylvania et al. on June 3, 2015 at 10:30 A.M. in front of the Centre County Courthouse located at 102 S. Allegheny Street, Bellefonte, PA 16823.”
So who handled Sandusky for years in AG Office & left unexpectedly and suddenly? & to where?
http://www.statecollege.com/news/local-news/attorney-generals-office-needs-more-time-in-sandusky-appeal,1464230/
Isn’t that the one Kane fired?
B
thank you Steve
Gov’t gets 2 bites at the apple:
http://www.statecollege.com/news/local-news/judge-splits-lees-child-sex-abuse-case-into-two-trials-refuses-to-suppress-evidence,1464247/
Well I thot it was Fina, but Peterson represented the current
AG case expert departed suddenly & unexpectedly.
You nailed it Blink.
Chief of Appellate Division.
“Kane fired James Barker, the chief deputy attorney general for appeals and legal services, her office confirmed. He was escorted out of the office by agents.
Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/20150409_Kane_fires_aide_who_testified_in_leak_probe.html#RIr9UckeBpRp1J3z.99”
Someone get Kane outta there.
all about Shutt’s Everest here:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/06/04/corinthian-colleges-loan-forgiveness_n_7492908.html
Sorry I was unable to respond sooner, but my phone was out for about a fortnight.
@Blink, yes, there is the possibility of a violation of legal/judicial canons. Those, however, are not criminal in nature. It is further complicated that SPM and Lunsford do work together on some committees, which is not uncommon even in Philadelphia (one of my clients is a sitting judge and our conversations had nothing to do with any case before her).
I did note that there was a reference to the Cantora/Glantz relationship at Happy Valley Settlement Services.
OT
Shutt is home free. Why didn’t I send my kid to college on line?
Gov’t To Erase Debt For Students Who Attended Now-Defunct Corinthian Schools
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/06/08/corinthian-loan-debt_n_7539122.html
the resume has changed to an unnamed private postsecondary entity
http://www.usafunds.org/Pages/MarkPelesh.aspx
from Corinthian (2003-13 – legislative lobbyist & regulatory compliance)
http://www.career.org/about/board-of-directors/Mark-Pelesh.cfm
http://www.centredaily.com/2015/06/09/4786453_district-attorney-stacy-parks.html?rh=1
As I reflected on why Centre Cty govt is so dysfunctional about simple procedure, which if
the County had followed before the “crisis,” the BOC would not have
provoked a “crisis,” the answer became very clear in this series of 8 requests by the PD.
The lack of oil responsible for the County’s broken gears is, in a word, Glantz.
It was up to the CC Solicitor to take Judge Kurtz’ order and send a legal opinion for procedural
implementation to Cry Admin Boyde and the BOC.
Glad to see you are back in the Comments saddle JJinPhila. I looked back at Kurtz’ Order and the directions to Centre County are plain on its face. Boyde’s violation of its terms merits a contempt finding and sanctions on the County BOC. It is obvious Boyde did not follow the Order deliberately to afford the Public Defender’s Office the right of appeal to the OOR and thus “win” thru the back door what was lost with Kurtz. At Glantz’ direction imo.
http://www.statecollege.com/news/local-news/district-attorney-wants-centre-county-held-in-contempt-of-court,1464316/
Young Garrett’s lead sentence is inflammatory, shows bias, and is inaccurrate.
Any DA must uphold and defend the perogatives of the Statewide DA’s Offices
assigned to them by the State legislature when a local executive branch determines
to run roughshod over the DA’s statutory duties.
imo plain on its face Boyde violated Kurtz’s order
https://fbcdn-photos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xtf1/v/t1.0-0/11427762_493245517490867_2726767943814584578_n.jpg?oh=fa4827f102073828b8272d76bb40e342&oe=562DE35D&__gda__=1442182150_27a8d445eb790ef137b1edbe290f4884
pity the law office sheltering Ellen the para who reads otherwise.
Boyde denied the request & referred “Dave” to OOR to appeal.
J Kurtz ordered Boyde to direct requests to the appropriate County employee for action.
Instead, he took action.
Rose, exactly right on Boyde. Boyde, from my dealings with him, is an honest. hard working, person, but he quoted the order which says he isn’t to make the decision.
I think Boyde acted at Glantz’ and/or the BOC’s
attorney’s (in the lawsuit under Kurtz) direction.
JJinPhila, procedure expert: Did this 2011 rule pass?
http://www.pacourts.us/assets/uploads/Resources/Documents/rec90appct%20-%20002028.pdf?cb=7a77d
Plain on it’s face the magisterial judge retains aughority to find contempt when its Order is violated altho a case is on appeal. If so, BOC’s insurance attorney is merely trying to intimidate Kurtz and to generate headlines.
@Rose, not my field, but it looks like the trial court can find contempt (though contempt rulings can be appealed).
God bless PA’s OOR’s fidelity to the Statute:
http://www.statecollege.com/news/local-news/office-of-open-records-shoots-down-appeal-to-release-judges-phone-records,1464388/
Garrett’s article reveals his recent college graduate, w/o journalism experience, chops. PFUR is a one-man idiosyncratic crusade which is very outside the margins of PA State life and whose main issue imo is the need to raise money for his tangents (having had to drop one appeal due to having no money). Most of what he does now sedms to be donation solicitation promos.
http://www.statecollege.com/news/local-news/office-of-open-records-shoots-down-appeal-to-release-judges-phone-records,1464388/
Last Friday’s ruling. Now we know why Exarchos had a
stick up his A at the BOC mtg this week. More
productive to not renew the Town Soliciter contract
who got the BOC into
this pickle.
PRUR is pretty much the group that attracts the wing nuts, from what I’ve seen. Bob Buehner, a former DA, also came out with this being a violation of the court order. The comments in the CDT are very hostile to Exarchos.
my recent review: Lunsford handled Verbal Lee.
Where is VL now?
Has he any outside prison contact, formerly associated with the
Courthouse in the Gricar era, that could be stirring the “get Lunsford”
pot? Obviously it would be a white collar employee or attorney
involved in the current mix.
As far as I know Verbal Lee is in jail. And I do not know of any contacts within Centre County. He was prosecuted by the AG’s Office.