The University Police found out about Victim #6 from the victim's mother in May 1998. On May 13 and May 19, 1998, the University Police and the State College Police Department eavesdropped on two phone calls between the victims mother and Jerry Sandusky.
Those are the calls in which Jerry Sandusky admitted showering with the boy and said that he had done it with other boys. Sandusky said he hugged the boy, but when asked if his "private parts" touched the boy, said "I don't think so . . . maybe." Sandusky apologized but refused to promise that he would not shower with other boys. (Grand Jury Presentment pages 19-20).
Note that the known extent of Victim #6's abuse was showering once and having Sandusky hug him. The victim's mother spotted the wet hair when her son came home and questioned the boy, then called the University Police.
Note that Sandusky never admitted that his genitals touched the boy.
There was a "long investigation" by the University Police, according to the GJ Presentment. The DA/State College's investigation also involved a similar incident involving an eleven year-old named 'B.J." If that's all that the DA had, given how prominent Sandusky was and how well-known The Second Mile was at that time, you may be able to understand why Sandusky was not prosecuted.
Anyway, we don't know how long a "long investigation" took.
But Sandusky coached the entire 1998 season and one year later, in May 1999, Paterno told Sandusky he would not be Paterno's successor. Maybe that's when the investigation was completed. A few days later, Sandusky announced his resignation, effective at the end of the 1999 season. Sandusky coached the entire 1999 season.
So the police, both the University Police and the State College Police did something. I'm not saying they did enough. But that's what they did.
If you're in a mood to be queasy, Sandusky was bringing a boy (Victim #4) with him as his 'date' to pregame banquets to sit at the coaches' table during both the 1998 and 1999 seasons. I wrote about that here.
Thanks.
I have no purpose in exonerating anyone, let the chips fall where they may, but I’m not sure that any Penn. State officials had any legal standing to do anything.
I think the focus now should be on the operations of the local police, politicians and courts. I think they were all in on it.