Emails obtained as a result of the Penn State University Board of Trustees’ investigation of the school’s role in the long-running sexual abuse of young boys by former football coach Jerry Sandusky reveal that the now-convicted pedophile received a generous early retirement package in 1999.

After examining the emails, reporter Jared Sichel of the Pennsylvania Independent said today Sandusky’s retirement was not a result of discovery of his sex crimes, but of PSU officials’ desire to help him “take advantage of an early-retirement program that boosted his retirement benefits.”