Jack Raykovitz has resigned as CEO of The Second Mile — the program for at-risk children founded by former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky, who's been accused of sexually abusing young boys for more than a decade.
Neither Raykovitz nor anyone else at Second Mile has been accused of any crime. Sandusky, through his lawyer, has maintained his innocence.
The organization has posted statements on its website saying that Raykovitz and the charity's board believe his departure "is in the best interests of the organization" and that:
"Although the allegations against Jerry Sandusky and the alleged incidents occurred outside Second Mile programs and events, this does not change the fact that the alleged sexual abuse involved Second Mile program children, nor does it lessen the terrible impact of sexual abuse on its victims."
Raykovitz said in a statement that "I hope that my resignation brings with it the beginning of ... restoration of faith in the community of volunteers and staff that, along with the children and families we serve, are The Second Mile."
As Harrisburg's Patriot-News reports, Raykovitz had been CEO for 28 years. It adds that:
"The [state] Attorney General alleges Penn State officials told Raykovitz that Sandusky had been banned from bringing children onto campus after there had been an issue with Sandusky and a minor [in 2002]. But the charity took no action against Sandusky because, it said this week, Penn State did not find any wrongdoing.
"The Second Mile said that Sandusky told the organization in 2008 he was being investigated, and that from then on the charity separated him from programs involving youths."
Sandusky cut ties with the charity in 2010.
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