Victim in Sandusky case files lawsuit against him, his charity, Penn State

HARRISBURG, Pa. – A young man who testified at the child sex abuse trial of former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky last summer is suing him, a charity he started and the university.

The man, who was called Victim 6 in court papers, sued Tuesday in federal court in Philadelphia, claiming that Sandusky’s behaviour was “ratified” by The Second Mile charity and Penn State and that the organizations acted with reckless indifference to his rights. He’s seeking at least US$75,000 in damages.

Penn State declined to comment on Tuesday. Messages for a Second Mile official and Sandusky’s civil lawyers weren’t immediately returned.

Victim 6 testified Sandusky called himself “the Tickle Monster” and grabbed him inside a university shower in 1998. His mother’s complaint triggered a police investigation but no charges.

Sandusky, a former assistant to longtime Penn State football coach Joe Paterno, was convicted of sexually abusing Victim 6 and nine other boys, some on campus. He is serving a sentence of 30 to 60 years in prison but maintains his innocence.

Three former university administrators also face trial on charges of perjury, obstruction and other offences. They deny the allegations.

The abuse scandal led to the dismissal of Paterno, who died a year ago Tuesday, and elicited landmark NCAA sanctions including a four-year post-season ban and significant scholarship cuts.