A former Penn State University graduate assistant cited by a grand jury report as claiming he saw an ex-assistant football coach sexually abusing a young boy in a campus locker room shower says in an email he made sure the act was stopped and then went to police _ contradicting what the report says.

But a central Pennsylvania police chief says his department did not receive the reports from Mike McQueary alleging child sexual abuse against former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky.

In an email made available to The Associated Press, McQueary did not specify which police department he spoke to. Borough police chief Tom King said Wednesday that McQueary didn't make a report to his department. The university also has its own police force. Penn State administrators said they were looking into whether McQueary contacted campus police.

McQueary's comments appeared to add more confusion to a scandal that has enveloped the university and resulted in the firing of renowned head football coach Joe Paterno, the ousting of president Graham Spanier and charges of perjury against the athletic director and a senior vice president.

McQueary, now the football team's wide receivers coach, told a friend from Penn State that he made sure the 2002 shower assault he witnessed was stopped and went to the police about it. The friend made McQueary's email, written Nov. 8, available to the AP on Tuesday on the condition he not be identified.

American football is hugely popular and Penn State has one of the largest and most loyal fan bases in college football, drawing tens of thousands of people to its home games. The team's success has brought in millions of dollars in television broadcast rights, merchandising and more.

McQueary, who has been placed on administrative leave and did not coach in Saturday's 17-14 loss to Nebraska, wrote: "I did stop it, not physically ... but made sure it was stopped when I left that locker room ... I did have discussions with police and with the official at the university in charge of police .... no one can imagine my thoughts or wants to be in my shoes for those 30-45 seconds ... trust me."

Added McQueary: "Do with this what you want ... but I am getting hammered for handling this the right way ... or what I thought at the time was right ... I had to make tough impacting quick decisions."

According to the grand jury report, McQueary testified he spoke to his father and then to Paterno before speaking to athletic director Tim Curley and senior vice president Gary Schultz, who oversaw campus police. Paterno has not been charged with any crime, and state prosecutors have said he is not a target. Curley and Schultz are accused of breaking the law by not going to police but maintain their innocence.

McQueary's actions also have been scrutinized, with some critics suggesting he didn't do enough after witnessing what he said was the sexual abuse of a child. Emails to McQueary from the AP were not immediately answered Tuesday.

McQueary's remarks in the email came less than a day after former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky's admission that he showered with and "horsed around" with boys stunned legal observers. Sandusky's comments, they said, could be used by prosecutors trying to convict him of child sex abuse charges.

Experts in criminal law and crisis management questioned Sandusky's decision to give a TV interview in which he said that there was no abuse and that any activities in a campus shower with a boy were just horseplay, not molestation.

"Mr. Sandusky goes on worldwide television and admits he did everything the prosecution claims he did, except for the ultimate act of rape or sodomy? If I were a prosecutor, I'd be stunned," said Lynne Abraham, the former district attorney of Philadelphia. "I was stunned, and then I was revolted."

Abraham, who led a grand jury probe involving 63 accused Roman Catholic priests from the Philadelphia archdiocese, was retained this week to lead an internal investigation of Sandusky's charity, The Second Mile, from which he's accused of culling his victims.

Sandusky is charged with abusing eight boys over the span of 15 years. He told NBC on Monday that he is not a pedophile but should not have showered with boys.

"I could say that I have done some of those things. I have horsed around with kids. I have showered after workouts. I have hugged them, and I have touched their legs without intent of sexual contact," Sandusky said Monday on NBC News' "Rock Center." "I am innocent of those charges."

When NBC's Bob Costas asked him whether he was sexually attracted to underage boys, Sandusky replied: "Sexually attracted, no. I enjoy young people. I love to be around them. But, no, I'm not sexually attracted to young boys."

On Wednesday, Penn State named Dr. David M. Joyner, a graduate and trustee, as acting athletic director.

Another lawyer said Wednesday he also has a client who intends to testify that he was sexually assaulted by Sandusky.

The Harrisburg attorney, Ben Andreozzi, said in a statement Wednesday that he has his "finger on the pulse" of the case and that other alleged assault victims are coming forward as well.