HARRISBURG, Pa. _ Graham B. Spanier, the former Pennsylvania State University president once considered one of the nation's most prominent college leaders, was convicted Thursday of endangering children by failing to report signs that Jerry Sandusky was a serial sex predator.
After about 12 hours of deliberation, the jury of seven women and five men found Spanier guilty of a single felony count of endangerment. He was acquitted of a second count, as well as a count of conspiracy.
Still the guilty verdict was a stunning blow to Spanier, 68, who had long proclaimed his innocence, and to his supporters, who had fiercely defended him and accused prosecutors of overreaching and unfairly staining the university. Many, including his wife, Sandra, a Penn State English professor, were in the Dauphin County Courtroom to hear the verdict.
Spanier could face years in prison for agreeing not to notify child welfare officials about a 2001 claim that Sandusky had been seen showering with a boy after hours in a campus building.
