Judge who freed Sandusky tied to Second Mile

The judge who granted bail to former Penn State coach Jerry Sandusky was a volunteer for his Second Mile charity, according to her biography on her former law firm's website.

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Sandusky was arrested on Nov. 5 and charged with 40 counts of sexual abuse of young boys over a 15-year period.

Story: Through charity, coach had access to vulnerable

Deadspin, a sports blog, reported that upon Sandusky's arraignment, prosecutors requested $500,000 bail for Sandusky. They also wanted him to wear a leg monitor.

However, Judge Leslie Dutchcot freed Sandusky on $100,000 unsecured bail, meaning he'll only have to pay if he doesn't show up for court.

Video: Disturbing Sandusky interview surfaces (on this page)

The judge's profile on her former law firm's website states that she volunteered at the Second Mile, the same organization where Sandusky allegedly found his victims.

Meanwhile, Dr. Jack Raykovitz, Second Mile's CEO of 28 years, resigned on Sunday, the organization's board of directors said in a statement Monday.

The vice chairman of the organization, David Woodle, will now be in charge of day-to-day operations.

Story: When abusers are 'like us,' how can they be stopped?

The board said it was conducting an internal investigation and that it had hired the law firm Archer & Greiner to be its general counsel.

In his resignation statement, Raykovitz said he wanted all of the focus to be "on the children, young adults and families who have been impacted" by the alleged abuse.

Raykovitz reportedly made more than $130,000 from the charity in 2010, CNBC sports business reporter Darren Rovell said in his Twitter feed Monday.

Second Mile connection
Some observers are questioning why Dutchcot, the judge, didn't recuse herself from Sandusky's case, given her connection to him through the Second Mile.

Rep. Mike Vereb told a local FOX affiliate that the details needed to be reviewed.

Video: Attorney says sex abuse victim emotionally torn (on this page)

"I'm sending off a letter to Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania Ron Castillo and asking him to look at what happened here, to look at the reports that are out there, and if in fact does this district justice has a conflict of interest," Vereb said.

Sandusky founded The Second Mile in 1977. The group has said that its youth programs serve as many as 100,000 children a year.

Sandusky, who retired from Penn State in 1999, informed The Second Mile board in November 2008 that he was under investigation. The charity subsequently barred him from activities involving children, charity officials said.

Sandusky has been banned from the Penn State campus and could face life in prison if convicted of the charges against him.

Penn State Athletic Director Tim Curley and Senior Vice President Gary Schultz were charged with perjury. Both have denied wrongdoing and have left their university posts.

The scandal led to the departure of university President Graham Spanier and the dismissal of legendary head coach Joe Paterno after law enforcement officials said they didn't do enough to stop suspected abuse when it was reported to them in 2002.

The Associated Press and NBC station WCAU contributed to this report.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45286426/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/

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