One of the consequences we were worried about from Jerry Sandusky’s television appearance on NBC was that he would scare some of his alleged victims back into hiding by denying all charges. It looks like the opposite occurred; many victims said his denials enraged them and has empowered them to step forward. But another consequence that has arisen is ridicule of the victims. One attorney says the first accuser is being bullied in school, and that other alleged victims are hiding scared.
From The Patriot-News:
Some of those who talked to [attorney Andy] Shubin are afraid of retribution from Penn State-crazed fans, or being blamed — like one victim — for the downfall of Joe Paterno.
Mike Gillum, the psychologist working with the Clinton County boy who first came forward to authorities in 2008 and whose statement led to the grand jury investigation, said Wednesday that the teen boy is having trouble in school because he is being bullied.
Coming forward has led to threats and verbal abuse, Gillum said.
“In some cases we’re finding that they are hiding in a fairly remote area, they are afraid of being discovered,” Shubin said about the people he talked to Wednesday.
Others have already come forward and say they were dissuaded from being honest, he said.
“In some cases they have disclosed something in careful ways to people in positions of authority and they were not believed,” Andronici said. “They were, in some cases, scolded and silenced.”
People are blaming a young boy for being sexually molested and assaulted by an adult for years? They’re trying to silence others? There are a few really sad points to be made here.
One, if some Penn State fans are upset that a few sexual assault victims are bringing down the program, is there any surprise why the Penn State athletic department (and police, governor, etc.) may have covered up all the crimes to protect the program?
Two, this is exactly why so many victims are scared to come forward. It’s also a big reason why it’s hard to get victims to testify in a trial. I can’t imagine how humiliating it must be to tell the world how abused you were.
Three, this is exactly why victims need to be encouraged to step forward, and exactly why they cannot be ridiculed. By conducting yourself that way, you are condoning abuse.
UPDATE: The victim in question has reportedly left his school.
