Jerry Sandusky Could Still Get Penn State Pension for Life
Jerry Sandusky will probably continue to be paid more than most people in rural Pennsylvania despite the fact that he's been convicted of 45 counts of child molestation and is currently sitting in prison, thanks to Sandusky's Penn State pension plan.
When Sandusky retired from Penn State in 1999, he received a $148,271 lump sum payment, plus the right to receive a $4,900 payment every month for the rest of his life under Pennsylvania's State Employees' Retirement System (SERS), reports Fox News.
And Sandusky is entitled to his pay despite the crimes he's committed.
Generally, under Pennsylvania's pension law, a beneficiary is entitled to the payments for life. However, under the state's pension forfeiture laws, if a beneficiary commits certain crimes, he may lose his right to collect. So, one must think that the law surely states that someone convicted of heinous crimes against young children would be deemed ineligible for benefits?
Unfortunately, that's not the case. While individuals convicted of extortion and bribery, would be deemed ineligible, those convicted of violent crimes and child abuse are still eligible, reports Fox News.
The reasoning is that the pension forfeiture law was aimed at stopping corruption by public officials and not violent crimes which are typically not associated with these officials.
While Sandusky will continue to collect his pension pay, prosecutors can seek heavy fines against him, and he may be sued by his victims in civil court. These steps may ensure that Sandusky never sees a cent from his pension.
A criminal conviction for child molestation will not stop the Jerry Sandusky pension payments. The pension forfeiture law was aimed at stopping graft and corruption, not stopping child molesters.
Related Resources:
- Sandusky pension decision could be months away (The Associated Press)
- Jerry Sandusky Insisting He's Innocent, Complaining About Jail (FindLaw's Tarnished Twenty)
- Can Jerry Sandusky Appeal Because of Joe Amendola's Antics? (FindLaw's Tarnished Twenty)