Sandusky tries to get his Penn State pension back

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http://bigstory.ap.org/article/sandusky-bid-restore-pension-hearing-subject

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A handcuffed Jerry Sandusky testified by video link for nearly three hours Tuesday about his Penn State retirement deal and ties between the university and the youth charity he founded, as a hearing began to determine if he should get retirement benefits canceled over his child molestation conviction.

Speaking from the western Pennsylvania prison where he is serving a 30- to 60-year sentence, Sandusky described how he retired from Penn State in mid-1999 to take advantage of an early retirement incentive, and then was immediately rehired on a temporary basis to coach one last season.

A hearing examiner is taking evidence about the post-retirement benefits Sandusky received and the university's connection to The Second Mile charity as part of Sandusky's appeal of the pension forfeiture.

Sandusky said that after the 1999 season, he never received another paycheck or W-2 tax form from Penn State, never held himself out to be a Penn State employee and was even given a retirement party. At issue is whether he could be considered a school employee about a decade later, when he committed sex crimes against two boys that meet the state's standards for forfeiture.