Report: PSU victim bullied out of school

Published Nov. 21, 2011 12:00 a.m. ET

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The alleged victim who sparked the child molestation case against Jerry Sandusky has been forced to leave school due to bullying, The Harrisburg Patriot-News reported Monday.

The alleged victim -- referred to as Victim One in the 23-page grand jury presentment -- was forced to leave school midway through this senior year after fellow students at Central Mountain High School, about 30 miles (48 km) northeast of Penn State University, reacted harshly to the firing of head football coach Joe Paterno.

The now 17-year-old's family psychologist, Mike Gillum, told The Patriot-News the name-calling and verbal threats became too much.

School officials declined to comment on the situation, according to the report.

The investigation into Sandusky began in 2008 after Victim One's mother made Central Mountain officials aware of the allegations of sexual assault. The alleged victim testified to meeting Sandusky through the former Penn State assistant coach's children's charity, The Second Mile, in 2005 or 2006.

Victim One testified Sandusky subjected him to multiple sexual acts between 2006 and 2008.

Sandusky had been assisting Central Mountain's varsity football program during that time and had "unfettered access to the school," according to the grand jury report. He was barred from the school district after the mother contacted officials and the matter was reported to authorities.

The ensuing investigation culminated earlier this month in Sandusky being charged in a 40-count indictment of sexually assaulting eight boys over a period of 15 years. The 67-year-old has maintained his innocence.