New questions surfaced on Monday about the Louis Freeh investigation at Penn State University, with the biggest being: Were prosecutors and the Freeh group working together?
6 News has obtained a series of emails sent between the two parties, indicating they were in communication before, during and after Jerry Sandusky’s conviction.
On the night that Sandusky was convicted of sexually abusing 10 boys, Gregory Paw – a legal consultant to Freeh’s group – sent an email to Prosecutor Frank Fina, which read, “I’m proud of you and the entire prosecution team. Very well done.”
Fina responded the next day saying, “Thank you for all the help and support.”
A few weeks later, when Freeh announced his findings, Fina sent another email to Paw stating, “Truly great work. Extend my congratulations to your team.”
Freeh’s findings led to tough NCAA sanctions against Penn State.
More emails were exchanged between Freeh’s team and prosecutors. 6 News will have a full report in this evening’s newscasts.
In the meantime, a new filing by Sandusky’s appellate lawyer lists seven grounds for his appeal of a 45-count conviction for child sexual abuse.
The document filed Monday is an outline of the claims that the former Penn State assistant coach plans to raise in an effort to overturn his conviction and sentence of 30 to 60 years.
Defense attorney Norris Gelman said Judge John Cleland should have given Sandusky’s attorneys more time to prepare for trial and should have issued instructions to the jurors about the years that passed before victims alerted authorities to the abuse.
Other grounds include a prosecutor’s reference during closing argument to Sandusky giving a television interview shortly after he was arrested, and the admission of hearsay about a shower attack witnessed by a Penn State janitor.
Stay with 6 News, WJACTV.com and WJACTV.com Mobile for continuing coverage.
