I suspect that what you are trying to convey is this:
That if guilt by association becomes the trend, we can all be held accountable for any crime within our sphere of contact.
This is indeed a heinous crime. One that is highly emotional. Often laws are enacted on the public emotion. This crime may be used as example for the rest of us to have to prove we are not criminals or associates of criminals. Adding to the list of other already time consuming activities we have in order to prove we are not criminals.
You may want to explain yourself better if this is the case, because no one is listening. You have appeared in several posts to be defending the perps. In this case, the associates are accessories.
Any PA criminal law folks know an answer ? (I was just curious and looked at PA statutes a little)...
Sandusky is toast, probably the rest of his life in prison, rape of a child, first degree felony up to 40 years (he should get multiple counts).
But for those who knew and concealed the crime, i.e., Paterno & Co, witnesses, etc., might these criminal charges apply ?:
§ 5105. Hindering apprehension or prosecution.
(a) Offense defined.—A person commits an offense if, with intent to hinder the apprehension, prosecution, conviction or punishment of another for crime or violation of the terms of probation, parole, intermediate punishment or Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition, he:
(1) harbors or conceals the other;
(2) provides or aids in providing a weapon,
transportation, disguise or other means of avoiding
apprehension or effecting escape;
(3) conceals or destroys evidence of the crime, or
tampers with a witness, informant, document or other source of information, regardless of its admissibility in evidence;
(4) warns the other of impending discovery or
apprehension, except that this paragraph does not apply to a warning given in connection with an effort to bring another into compliance with law; or
(5) provides false information to a law enforcement
officer.
(b) Grading.—The offense is a felony of the third degree
if the conduct which the actor knows has been charged or is
liable to be charged against the person aided would constitute a felony of the first or second degree. Otherwise it is a misdemeanor of the second degree.
(Dec. 18, 1996, P.L.1074, No.160, eff. 60 days)
§ 5107. Aiding consummation of crime.
(a) Offense defined.—A person commits an offense if he
intentionally aids another to accomplish an unlawful object of a crime, as by safeguarding the proceeds thereof or converting the proceeds into negotiable funds.
(b) Grading.—The offense is a felony of the third degree
if the principal offense was a felony of the first or second
degree. Otherwise it is a misdemeanor of the second degree.
§ 5108. Compounding.
(a) Offense defined.—A person commits a misdemeanor of the second degree if he accepts or agrees to accept any pecuniary benefit in consideration of refraining from reporting to law enforcement authorities the commission or suspected commission of any offense or information relating to an offense.
(b) Defense.—It is a defense to prosecution under this
section that the pecuniary benefit did not exceed an amount
which the actor believed to be due as restitution or
indemnification for harm caused by the offense.