The Second Mile can no longer oppose the requests of the people Jerry Sandusky was found guilty of abusing to delay the transfer of assets in an attempt to dissolve the charity faster, following an order from the Centre County Court on Tuesday.
The Second Mile’s request to halt its transfer of assets and funds to a Texas-based charity was approved by Senior Judge William F. Morgan and provides more support to those Sandusky found guilty of abusing and "John Doe A" — who filed to stop the dissolution of The Second Mile, according to court documents.
The Second Mile’s petition also plays no role in any legal proceedings still pending between individuals Sandusky was found guilty of abusing, as well as those in civil suits with Sandusky, and it will not "settle, resolve or release the legal claims that a Victim may have," according to court documents.
The request — which was filed last week by The Second Mile, the Pennsylvania Attorney General, some individuals who Jerry Sandusky was found guilty of abusing and "John Doe A" — stated that no further action to dissolve the organization should be taken until all civil proceedings are finalized.
The order issued Tuesday guarantees that the request of The Second Mile will remain in tact and can only be changed through another order of the court, according to court documents.
Should The Second Mile decide to go through with the dissolution of the charity, it must give 30 days notice to the court to lift the petition, as well as follow up with the various counsels and individuals involved, according to court documents.
Second Mile Interim CEO David Woodle said in a release on the charity’s website last week [http://www.thesecondmile.org/welcome.php] that the petition was issued as a way to respect the wishes and needs of all parties involved.
In the meantime, he said the organization plans on continuing its programs throughout the fall, until any assets are transferred to the Arrow Child and Family Ministries [http://www.arrow.org/].
But the delay in transfer will not affect the ongoing investigation into The Second Mile, Woodle said in the statement, and The Second Mile will "[continue] to cooperate fully."
The Second Mile is the charity Sandusky founded. Sandusky, the former Penn State defensive coach, was convicted in June on 45 counts of sexually abusing children he met through The Second Mile.
