Graham Spanier Charged with Perjury, Obstruction of Justice in Sandusky Scandal

Former Penn State president Graham Spanier has been charged with perjury and obstruction of justice for his role in the Jerry Sandusky sex abuse scandal, based on a report from Paula Reed Ward of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

UPDATE: Wednesday, Nov. 7 at 10:10 a.m. ET by Tim Daniels

After being arraigned on charges of perjury, obstruction and conspiracy for his alleged role in the Sandusky sex abuse scandal, Spanier has been allowed to go free on $125,000 unsecured bail, according to a report from the Associated Press.

The former Penn State president, who remains a member of the university's faculty on paid leave, has continued to refute any claims that he played a role in covering up Sandusky's actions. He has remained a key figure in the investigation throughout.

Not mentioned in the AP report is a time frame for when Spanier is expected back in court to fight the charges levied against him. Tim Curley and Gary Schultz, two other officials that have been charged, are scheduled for trail in January.

---End of update---

Onward State confirms Spanier faces eight criminal charges, including three felony counts. The state of Pennsylvania has also released the official criminal docket, featuring a complete description of all counts.

Spanier resigned from his post last year after he came under fire for allegedly covering up Sandusky's actions and was one of the key figures in both the original grand jury report on the case and the independent Freeh Report.

The news of charges against Spanier comes more than four months after Sandusky was found guilty on 45 of 48 counts of child sex abuse. He was recently sentenced to 30 to 60 years in prison, where he will likely spend the rest of his life.

Despite the fact that Sandusky is behind bars, Thursday's news is a sign that the case that shook one of the most well-known public universities in the country to its core is far from over.

Among the charges levied against Spanier by the state are endangering the welfare of children and failure to report. The docket does not list the level of punishment he would face if found guilty, however.

Tim Curley and Gary Schultz, two other Penn State officials involved in the case that are already awaiting trial for perjury, also face more charges. Onward State reports both men had six more counts added today with four being felonies.

The scandal clearly has no end in sight.