There’s a piece of land in Patton Township that was supposed to be the future site of the Center for Excellence featuring dormitories, athletic facilities, and meeting rooms – a camp for the children participating in Second Mile programs.
Second Mile acquired the 60-acre site in 2002, originally two separate parcels at 2400 Bernel Road – including one donated by Penn State — that were later merged into one parcel. The Pennsylvania Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program planned to issue a $3 million grant for the project. Second Mile also secured a loan for construction costs.
And then, in 2012, 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.
Second Mile lost the $3 million grant and the construction loan and a court ordered Second Mile to transfer its programs to another entity. The land in Patton Township remains vacant.
Second Mile asked a judge Tuesday for permission to sell the property to Michael J. Lee for $1 million. The organization’s board approved the sale agreement at a Sept. 4 meeting and Penn State waived its right to purchase the property, clearing the way for the sale.
“The sale of the Bernel Road Property is in the best interest of the Second Mile as the proposed sale price exceeds the most recent assessed market value of a fee simple interest in the Bernel Road Property by 15.4 percent and there have been no other offers to purchase the Bernel Road Property,” the petition says.
Judge William F. Morgan, who is specially presiding over the case, can approve or reject the sale.
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 The Second Mile selected to take over several of its youth programs.
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