U.S. Government Analyst Blames Freeh's Investigation for Keeping Pennsylvania's Children In Harm's Way

WASHINGTON, Jan. 24, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- For the last six months, the investigation and subsequent report penned by Louis Freeh has come under fire for being light on facts, heavy on supposition and lacking the legal teeth to provide any of the answers about Penn State's role in the Jerry Sandusky scandal.  A new report released today by U.S. Government analyst Ray Blehar concludes something far worse: the Freeh Report's analysis of the 1998 investigation of Jerry Sandusky completely missed the fact that Sandusky had full access to children during the investigation and, as trial records indicate, was likely abusing Victim 4 at the time of the investigation.

Blehar's report exposes that no safety plan was put in place during the 1998 investigation of Sandusky.  Law enforcement records referenced in the report confirm that Sandusky continued to interact with children throughout the investigation.  Sandusky was observed at the baseball practices of two of the children who were the subjects of the investigation, prompting the mother to again summon the police. The report also notes that no formal safety plan was put in place during the 2008 – 2011 investigation.

The report contends that the root cause of the Freeh Report's many flaws was its failure to reference Pennsylvania's Child Protective Services Law (CPSL).

"When the 1998 investigation is evaluated for compliance with the CPSL, it is quite obvious that the state (DPW) and county (CYS) agencies failed on several fronts," explained Blehar. As a result of the omission, the Freeh Report failed to recommend any type of review of the DPW's and Centre County CYS's investigative procedures, which could lead to needed improvements in child protection.

"So, here we sit, more than six months after Freeh's press conference, with no more safeguards in place to protect the children of Pennsylvania than we had when Sandusky was evaluated 14 years ago," said Blehar. "Nothing has been done to prevent another predator like Jerry Sandusky from roaming the streets of Pennsylvania."

The report also confirms that Centre County Children and Youth Services (CYS) failed to notify The Second Mile of the 1998 investigation of Jerry Sandusky.  Further, CYS failed to provide a "status determination" to the charity at the close of the investigation.  These notifications, required by law, may have had a profound impact on the charity's response to the 2001 report of an incident of Sandusky showering with a child on Penn State's campus.  

By law, the 1998 investigation should have been conducted by DPW officials from the outset, due to Sandusky's status as an "agent" of the county.  But since it was not, the DPW investigator, Jerry Lauro, did not personally interview any of the alleged victims. As a result, Lauro was only able to read the transcripts of interviews conducted by the police and CYS, denying him first hand knowledge of the emotional states of the children. 

Blehar said the Freeh investigation provided a golden opportunity to illuminate real and serious issues regarding child welfare in the state of Pennsylvania. Instead, he concluded the Freeh Report turned out to be of little diagnostic quality in determining the reforms needed to keep children safe, and stated, "The fact of the matter is really quite simple: this is NOT a Penn State problem; it's a Pennsylvania state problem."

Ray Blehar has 27 years of experience as an analyst and investigator. He is currently employed as a senior requirements analyst for the U.S. government in Washington, DC.  Blehar has served on the Board of Examiners for the U.S. Senate Productivity and Maryland Quality Awards program.  In this role, he examined the most important aspects of organizational governance, including legal and ethical responsibilities, strategic planning, customer relationship management, operations management, human resource management, and business performance.  Blehar holds certifications as a Quality Improvement Associate with the American Society of Quality and as a team facilitator through the Army Management and Engineering College.

Blehar's report, the first in a series on the Sandusky Scandal, can be accessed at http://emf.intherough.net/Report_1_Child%20Protection_1.23.2013.pdf

SOURCE Ray Blehar