Free Republic

Robert Poole, chairman of the state board of directors for The Second Mile, contributed about $2,400 to the campaign of Magisterial District Judge Leslie Dutchcot in 2007, according to Dutchcot’s campaign finance reports. Dutchcot arraigned Jerry Sandusky and set the $100,000 unsecured bail, after the Attorney General’s Office asked for a higher, cash bail and electronic monitoring. Criticism has arisen that Dutchcot had a conflict of interest with The Second Mile, as a volunteer and donor for the organization Dutchcot. She has not commented on that issue, saying previously that a judge is not allowed to comment on pending cases....

Montco Rep. Vereb asks judge to look into Sandusky's bail settingBy JENNY DeHUFF Published: Tuesday, November 15, 2011 HARRISBURG — If what is alleged is true, the judge who arraigned Jerry Sandusky on $100,000 unsecured bail also had ties to his charity organization, in the form of being a hefty donor, volunteer and gala attendee, among other things. That is the claim State Rep. Mike Vereb, R-150th of Montgomery County, is making against District Justice Leslie Dutchcot, who, by some sources, gave Sandusky a mere slap on the wrist when she arraigned him last week. He pays nothing unless he...

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - The judge who ruled former Penn State defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky be freed on $100,000 unsecured bail after being charged with 40 counts of sexual abuse against children is a volunteer for The Second Mile, the charity Sandusky founded. The state Attorney General's Office requested $500,000 bail and an electronic leg monitor for Sandusky, but District Judge Leslie Dutchcot, active in several volunteer roles, ordered Sandusky, a State College resident, to have no contact with children. He will not have to pay any money unless he fails to appear for court. Dutchot also serves as counsel...

Through charity, Sandusky had access to vulnerableBy KEVIN BEGOS and MARK SCOLFORO Updated at 07:25 PM today **SNIP** Records from The Second Mile show that the organization asks staff members and volunteers to sign a statement affirming they have never been suspected of child abuse. They must also submit a criminal background check. Officials from the Second Mile didn't respond to a question about whether any such checks were ever done on Sandusky. The Second Mile said in a statement that it has done "everything in our power to cooperate with law-enforcement officials." But Pennsylvania Attorney General Linda Kelly said...