(CNN) -- The attorney for former Penn State University assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky denied what he called "rumors" Thursday that his client was considering a plea deal.
"The rumors ... are completely unfounded," Joe Amendola told CNN in an e-mail.
Sandusky, 67, is charged with 40 counts relating to the alleged sexual abuse of eight boys he met through The Second Mile, a nonprofit organization he founded for underprivileged children. He is free on $100,000 bail and has maintained his innocence.
Amendola said he was asked in a recent interview whether his strategy would change if the attorney general filed new charges involving 15 or 20 new alleged victims.
"I responded, if that happened, in addition to the planned course of defending against all the charges, I would have to discuss other possible alternatives with Jerry," he said. "I wouldn't be fulfilling my legal obligation to him if I didn't discuss those other alternatives with him, including the possibility of a plea.
"Jerry has never considered and is not currently considering a plea in his case," Amendola said. "He has always maintained his innocence and continues to do so as we prepare for his preliminary hearing."
Separately, two organizations aimed at preventing sexual violence said Thursday they have partnered with Penn State to focus on that mission. As part of the three-year partnership, Penn State has pledged $1.5 million to facilitate the effort, said a joint statement from the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape and the National Sexual Violence Resource Center.
The organizations said they "are combining their expertise and resources to work with Penn State University to focus on preventing sexual violence."
The Penn State scandal, which has raised questions of whether university and community leaders took appropriate action about allegations involving Sandusky, "is not unique," Delilah Rumberg, chief executive officer for the two organizations, said in the statement.
"We know that adults see or hear things that make them uncomfortable, or may even have a child disclose sexual abuse, but they don't get involved. We want to prevent abuse by equipping people with information, skills and resources."
Penn State Athletic Director Tim Curley, 57, and the school's vice president for finance and business, Gary Schultz, 62, were charged with one count of felony perjury and one count of failure to report abuse allegations.
In addition, Penn State President Graham Spanier and legendary head football coach Joe Paterno lost their jobs soon after Sandusky's arrest amid criticism they did not adequately handle the matter when allegations involving Sandusky arose years earlier.
Attorneys for an alleged sexual abuse victim said Thursday they reached a settlement with Second Mile that allows it to stay in operation but requires it to obtain court approval prior to transferring assets or closing. Second Mile also is required to notify the plaintiff about any proposed distribution of assets.
"Our goal in filing this lawsuit was to protect the interests of our clients and other victims," attorney Ben Andreozzi of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, said in a statement. "This settlement will preserve the assets of the Second Mile, and allow these victims to have a voice before any assets are transferred."
"We intend to initiate a civil lawsuit seeking damages from the organizations and individuals responsible for the sexual assaults upon our clients," said Andreozzi, who said he represents other alleged victims of Sandusky.
On Wednesday, a 29-year-old man filed the first civil lawsuit against Sandusky, claiming Sandusky sexually abused him more than 100 times over several years during the 1990s, when he was a boy. The accuser, identified in court documents as "John Doe A," was not cited in the report from a grand jury that prompted the charges against Sandusky, his attorney, Jeff Anderson, said.
The lawsuit targets The Second Mile, Sandusky and Penn State University. The school said in a statement Wednesday it had not received the documents and could not comment on pending litigation.
The Second Mile said, "We will review the lawsuit and respond appropriately when we have done so. The Second Mile will adhere to its legal responsibilities throughout this process. As always, our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families."
Sandusky told NBC's Bob Costas in an interview that he has been falsely accused and that he only "horsed around" with kids in showers after workouts.
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