A judge says he will approve the sale of property owned by the Second Mile unless someone files an objection to the deal.
Judge William F. Morgan, who is specially presiding over the case in Centre County Orphans’ Court, said in an order dated Sept. 17 and released to the public this week, that he will grant Second Mile’s petition for sale by Oct. 24.
If any parties file objections to the sale, Morgan has set a hearing date for Nov. 7 to hear those arguments.
At issue is a piece of land in Patton Township that was supposed to be the future site of the Center for Excellence a camp for the children participating in Second Mile programs.
Second Mile, a charity targeting at-risk youth, acquired the 60-acre site in 2002, originally two separate parcels at 2400 Bernel Road later merged as one. Penn State donated one of the parcels for the project.
More than $3 million in funding for the project fell through after authorities indicted the founder of Second Mile and former Penn State football coach Jerry Sandusky for child sexual abuse involving children he targeted through Second Mile events.
Subsequently, a court ordered Second Mile to transfer its programs to another entity. The land in Patton Township remains vacant.
Last week, Second Mile asked the court for permission to sell the property to Michael J. Lee for $1 million, which the group says is roughly 15 percent more than the assessed market value. The organization’s board approved the sale agreement at a Sept. 4 meeting and Penn State waived its right to purchase the property.
Meanwhile, Second Mile has multiple outstanding lawsuits. Litigation is still ongoing for Victim 6, who says Sandusky used his charity for at-risk kids as a “hunting ground” for his victims. Another victim filed a lawsuit earlier this month against Sandusky, Second Mile and Penn State. The suit claims Sandusky “recruited, groomed and coerced” the victim throughout the years the victim attended Second Mile programs.
Sandusky is now a convicted pedophile. A jury found him guilty of 45 counts of child sexual abuse. He is serving a 30 to 60 year sentence in state prison. Meanwhile, three former Penn State administrators are awaiting trial for allegedly attempting to cover up the scandal.
Previously, the court barred Second Mile from spending any of its funds until all legal claims are settled. If the judge approves the sale, Second Mile says it will hold onto the funds until pending litigation is resolved.
In July the court allowed Second Mile to transfer nearly $900,000 in funds to Arrow Child & Family Ministries of Pennsylvania, which Second Mile selected to take over several of its youth programs and the court approved.
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