Penn State's Gary Schultz requests Freeh report files to prepare defense in Jerry Sandusky scandal

Schultz's lawyers said the report 'has maintained grievous and potentially inaccurate information related to Mr. Schultz ... alleging a conspiracy among the top administrators for the university to cover up reports of sexual abuse within its football program.'

A former Penn State official facing a perjury charge in the Jerry Sandusky scandal asked a judge to let his defense see files from a school investigation.

Lawyers for retired university vice president Gary Schultz, a Nazareth native, filed a petition late Monday that requested a list of 25 sets of items from the Washington, D.C., law firm led by former FBI director Louis Freeh, who was hired by Penn State to look into the child sex abuse scandal.

The records Schultz wants include notes of interviews with former Penn State president Graham Spanier and with Cynthia Baldwin, the university’s former chief counsel.

Schultz’s lawyers said Freeh’s report “has maintained grievous and potentially inaccurate information related to Mr. Schultz, reviewing in great detail his purported actions, and alleging a conspiracy among the top administrators for the university to cover up reports of sexual abuse within its football program.”

Schultz also is charged with failure to properly report suspected child abuse. The court filing said the documents would help him prepare a defense and in jury selection.

Schultz defense lawyer George Matangos said today if Dauphin County Judge Todd Hoover signs the order, it would be taken to Washington, D.C., court officials for their review. The filing sets a Sept. 1 deadline.

“I wouldn’t say it’s a firm timetable,” Matangos said. “It’s a guideline we’re trying to follow.”

Schultz’s co-defendant, Penn State athletic director Tim Curley, did not immediately join the motion, and a message seeking comment from his lawyer was not immediately returned.

A spokesman for Freeh declined to comment. A message left for state prosecutors was not immediately returned.

Sandusky awaits sentencing after being convicted in June of 45 counts of child sexual abuse.

Schultz’s lawyers wrote that if convicted of perjury, the more serious count against him, he could be sentenced to seven years.

Freeh’s report concluded that Schultz, Curley, Spanier and longtime football coach Joe Paterno hid accusations against Sandusky for fear of bad publicity.