'Victim 1' in Penn State Abuse Case Hires Bryn Mawr Lawyer

Bryn Mawr resident Michael J. Boni, an attorney based in Bala Cynwyd, will represent the so-called "Victim 1" in the case of the sex-abuse allegations against former Penn State football coach Jerry Sandusky, he and his co-counsel announced Monday.

Boni and fellow attorney Slade H. McLaughlin, of Philadelphia-based firm McLaughlin & Lauricella P.C., will also handle all media inquiries for the teenager and his mother, the lawyers announced in the statement.

Boni & Zack LLC is described as "a litigation boutique firm" in the statement, which quotes McLaughlin as saying the attorneys will draw upon their experience in clergy sex-abuse cases.

Sandusky is charged with abusing eight boys. According to the grand jury presentment in the case, Victim 1 met Sandusky in 2005 or 2006, at age 11 or 12, through Sandusky's Second Mile charity. The victim said Sandusky performed oral sex on him more than 20 times in 2007 and 2008, during which time he also was compelled to perform oral sex on Sandusky, according to the presentment.

The Patriot-News reported Tuesday that Victim 1 will likely have to testify at a preliminary hearing in mid-December.