Press Release: Only 12% of Freeh's Findings Hold Water

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Ray Blehar:  Only 12% of Freeh’s Findings Hold Water
Analyst Reveals Freeh Report Provides No Basis For NCAA Sanctions

 FEBRUARY 27, 2013, WASHINGTON, DC --- A little over two weeks ago, the Paterno family’s experts concluded the Freeh Report was full of assumptions, short on evidence, and a complete failure in identifying the methods of “nice guy-pillar of the community” pedophiles.  A new report released today by analyst Ray Blehar not only confirms the expert’s assessments but adds additional details that negate nearly all findings related to the NCAA sanctions.

In the most detailed analysis of the Freeh Report to date, Blehar exposes at least twenty critical errors and omissions that essentially would have left Mr. Freeh speechless at his press conference.  Blehar explained, “Had the Board of Trustees or a legal team reviewed Freeh’s work prior to publication, they would have stricken nearly every finding he discussed at the press conference."

The report analyzes each of the fifty findings related to the NCAA Sanctions.  Each finding is evaluated based on relevant Federal and state laws, evidence, and Generally Accepted Government Auditing Standards (GAGAS).  The analysis revealed:

·         Six findings substantiated or partially substantiated;

·         27 findings unsubstantiated; and,

·         17 findings not meeting the GAGAS criteria for a finding.

“When the findings from Chapters 2, 4, 7, 8, and 9 were evaluated, the only findings the Freeh Report substantiated were a few pertaining to the Clery Act and to Penn State’s performance of criminal background checks – and I had to relax the standards to accept those findings.”

The report also reveals that Freeh’s team failed to perform basic investigative procedures, such as reviewing the Standing Orders of the Board of Trustees, constructing timelines for various incidents, evaluating the crime scene, and performing checks of phone records.  In addition, the Freeh Report misstated the crimes (based on trial verdicts), incorrectly recounted trial testimony, and ignored exculpatory evidence contained within its report. 

Blehar said, “Had any investigator submitted a report of such poor quality to a competent authority, it would have been flatly rejected and returned for further investigation and rework.”

His report recommends that the NCAA Sanctions be repealed, monies returned to Penn State, and  an independent commission be convened to review all aspects of the Sandusky scandal, to include the investigation conducted by Freeh, Sporkin, and Sullivan, the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General,  and their interactions with the NCAA. 

Blehar concluded, “With all of the trouble the NCAA is facing over its botched investigation of the University of Miami, I believe an independent commission or an expansion of the scope AG Kane’s investigation are good options for investigating the full spectrum of the scandal. ”

Ray Blehar has 27 years of experience as an analyst and investigator.  Blehar has served on the Board of Examiners for the U.S. Senate Productivity and Maryland Quality Awards program.  In this role, he examined the most important aspects of organizational governance, including legal and ethical responsibilities, strategic planning, customer relationship management, operations management, human resource management, and business performance.  Blehar holds certifications as a Quality Improvement Associate with the American Society of Quality and as a team facilitator through the Army Management and Engineering College.  He is currently employed as a senior requirements analyst in Washington, DC.

Blehar’s full report, the second in a series on the Sandusky Scandal, can be accessed at: 
http://www.sanduskyreports.com/report2full.pdf

A summary version of this report is available at:
http://www.sanduskyreports.com/report2media.pdf


RELEASE PERFORMANCE at 11:30AM:  148 media outlets have picked up this story, including Yahoo, Reuters, SF Gate, SacBee, and Boston.com