When did this all start?

The allegations first surfaced in 2009, when Jerry Sandusky was volunteering as an assistant high school football coach at Central Mountain High School in Clinton County. A 15-year-old student there told school officials that Sandusky had touched him inappropriately while they were alone in a gym. The case was referred to Children and Youth Services, and later to the attorney general's office. A grand-jury investigation was under way by that summer.



Why wasn't the case investigated locally?

The allegations of abuse took place in Centre County, but the district attorney in 2009, Michael Madeira, said he had a conflict of interest and handed the case over to the attorney general.



What happened over the weekend?

Sandusky was charged and arraigned on Saturday in Centre County. Penn State Athletic Director Tim Curley and Penn State Senior Vice President for Finance Gary Schultz are due to be arraigned on Monday in Harrisburg.



Where will the trial be?

The trial will likely be held in Centre County where all of the crimes are alleged to have occurred.



Why was this investigated by a grand jury?

In Pennsylvania, a grand jury is a tool used by prosecutors to investigate potential crimes.



The advantage is twofold: It compels evidence and forces witnesses to testify through the power of subpoena, and it is done in secret.





Jerry Sandusky arraignment 11 Gallery: Jerry Sandusky arraignment

Unlike a trial jury, a grand jury does not decide guilt or innocence but simply determines whether there is enough evidence to recommend that charges are filed. Ultimately, the decision to file charges is made by the state attorney general.

A grand jury consists of 23 members of the public selected from seven counties. Grand juries meet for 18 to 24 months.

Why did the investigation take so long?

It is not unusual for a grand jury to investigate a case for months. The grand jury only meets a few days a month, and was likely hearing evidence on other cases at the same time.

Witness testimony and evidence was being presented up until this fall. Subpeonas to Penn State and The Second Mile charity netted thousands of pages of documents that also needed to be digested.

What happens next?

The defendants will be scheduled for a preliminary hearing — a court proceeding designed to determine if there is enough evidence for them to go to trial.

Where is Jerry Sandusky?

Sandusky has been released on $100,000 unsecured bail, meaning he won’t have to post any money unless he doesn’t show up for court.

Patriot-News reporter Sara Ganim talks about the case on CNN: