keepingitheel.com
After only 21 hours of deliberation, a Pennsylvania jury found former Penn State Assistant Coach Jerry Sandusky guilty on 45 of 48 charges related to child sex abuse Friday evening.
The case shocked the nation in 2011 when allegations came out that Sandusky has abused young boys through his charity over a period of 15 years. Head coach Joe Paterno was removed from his post and Penn State has been closely watched after some – a few of whom worked with Sandusky at Penn State – said they were made aware of the abuse and ignored it. Sandusky was accused of taking showers with young boys on university grounds.
During the three week trial, graphic testimony was given by many of the victims in hopes that it would further the prosecution’s case and have him found guilty. The defense attempted to argue that the media was biased so there was no way Sandusky could receive a fair trial and defense attorney Joe Amendola also wanted jurors to know that there wasn’t much physical evidence and the victims could possibly be exaggerating their story for financial gain.
A request for Sandusky’s bail was denied by Judge John Cleland and he was instantly taken to a local jail where he’ll remain as he awaits sentencing. He could receive a maximum of 442 years in prison but even if he only receives a minimum sentence, which is based on the weight of each charge, he will spend the rest of his life in prison. There is also a chance that incest charges will be brought against him because his son Matt who is adopted stated through his attorney that he, too, was abused by Sandusky.
Lawyers for Sandusky suspect the sentencing will take place in September and say that he was expecting the worst to happen.
