An internal probe into the sex abuse scandal that rocked Penn State University revealed Thursday that top-ranking officials, including former president Graham Spanier and the late, then-head football coach Joe Paterno, concealed allegations of abuse by ex-assistant coach Jerry Sandusky.

According to CNN, the report indicates that officials concealed the allegations to “avoid the consequences of bad publicity.” By doing this, the report says, officials “failed to protect” victims from abuse by Sandusky:

“Some coaches, administrators and football program staff members ignored the red flags of Sandusky’s behaviors and no one warned the public about him.”

Last month, Sandusky was convicted by a jury on 45 of the 48 counts against him involving 10 boys over a period of 15 years. He faces a maximum sentence of 442 years in prison.

Click here to read a statement by ACA Immediate Past President Don W. Locke and find resources to help counselors assist survivors of sexual abuse.

Heather Rudow is a staff writer for Counseling Today. Email her at hrudow@counseling.org.