Investigators said Monday Jerry Sandusky, considered a football icon at Penn State, preyed on boys for more than a decade.
Monday, two top Penn State officials were charged with failing to report the alleged abuses to the authorities and lying to a jury.
Prosecutors said that likely allowed Sandusky to continue to victimize children for years.
"If they do go to somebody, who do they go to when they're talking about an icon in the area? It's very difficult," said State Police Commissioner Frank Noonan
Following a two year investigation, Commissioner Noonan and State Attorney General Linda Kelly detailed the case against former Penn State Football Coach Jerry Sandusky.
Both laid out the disturbing charges in the investigation of Sandusky. They call him a sexual predator who used his position in the community to allegedly prey on at least eight boys for more than a decade.
"Those officials and administrators to whom it was reported, did not report that incident to law enforcement or any child protective agency," said Attorney General Kelly. "Their inaction likely allowed a child predator to continue to victimize children for many many years."
Kelly added high-ranking Penn State officials Tim Curley and Gary Schultz were told about alleged abuse by Sandusky, but never reported it to law enforcement, and then lied to a grand jury.
"Through The Second Mile program he was able to identify these children, then give them gifts, establish trust, initiate physical contact which eventually led to sexual contact and that is very common in these type of investigations," said Commissioner Noonan.
Only in 2009 did high school officials near Lock Haven tell investigators Sandusky was accused of abusing a victim.
"Once they learned from the child and the mother of that child, that there had been these sexual assaults that occurred, they promptly reported that to law enforcement and that was the catalyst that started this investigation and but for that we may not be standing here today," said Kelly
Now investigators are asking for one of the alleged victims, then 10 years old, to come forward.
According to Dauphin County victims Advocate Jennifer Storm this sex scandal now has high profile status.
"Unfortunately we've seen what happens to victims in the media," said Storm "I would implore victims to come forward whether it's to be a part of this investigation or to get services for yourself."
Storm graduated from Penn State and said administrators failed to act, choosing to protect the university's image instead of help young victims.
"You're talking about a huge legacy of football, a huge donor base of individuals that contribute to Penn State on a annual basis," said Storm
Investigators would not comment on whether Penn State's President Graham Spanier will face charges.
All three men charged maintain they are innocent.
The investigation continues. Officials ask anyone with information about the alleged sex abuse scandal to contact the attorney general's office.