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Penn State Convicted Sex Offender’s Charity To Close

A charity founded by convicted sex offender Penn State assistant coach Jerry Sandusky has petitioned to permanently shut down.

The Second Mile (TSM) filed a 40-page Petition for Distribution of Assets and Dissolution in Centre County Court requesting to close for good and transfer remaining assets to the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office, which would hold them in escrow f0r appropriate disposition as it deems consistent with the mission. The move formalizes a decision made by the charity’s board of directors in July.

The Lemont, Pa.-based organization started the legal process to dissolve years ago, first by submitting applications to the Centre County Court to transfer programs to Arrow Child & Family Ministries. Founded in 1977, The Second Mile saw donations virtually disappear soon after sexual abuse allegations against Sandusky surfaced in 2010, ultimately culminating in his arrest and conviction in June 2012. He met all of the victims through social services charity he created.

The charity has petitioned the courts for a number of moves over the years, including transferring some programs and $2 million in assets to another nonprofit as well as selling its property in State College, Pa. TSM reported revenues of as much as $3 million as recently as 2009 and at one time had assets of $9 million. The charity has about $800,000 in assets remaining and two legal claims still outstanding are covered by insurance, according to the petition.

Youth development programs were transferred in 2012 to Arrow Child & Family Ministries. TSM requested court approval in March 2013 for the transfer of $200,000 to ensure continuation of its mentoring programs and in 2014 another $300,000, certain computers, and The Second Mile Endowment Fund.

Arrow has its national headquarters in Houston but its Altoona, Pa., operation began in 2006, providing foster care services before expanding to include adoption and “family strengthening programs.” It services children who have been removed from their homes due to abuse and/or neglect by providing foster care and adoption services and programs for families in crisis.

In a statement at the time, interim CEO David Woodle said that, except for ordinary business expenses, TSM would invest remaining funds subject to resolving any claims by Sandusky’s victims. After all the claims have been resolved, Woodle expected to file another petition with the court.

Sandusky was convicted on 45 of 48 charges that he sexually abused 10 boys and was sentenced to 30 to 60 years in prison.