Jerry Sandusky, a former football coach for Penn State, was found guilty of sexually assaulting 10 boys during a 15-year period. His conviction means he could face life in prison. The incident rocked the storied football program and caused the firing of Joe Paterno the university’s legendary head coach.
Sandusky was taken from the courthouse in handcuffs following the jury’s decision that found him guilty of all but three of the 48 counts against him. He will be sentenced in three months, but the mandatory minimum sentences will keep him locked up for life.
Sandusky at one time had been the heir apparent to Paterno. When the verdict was being read, he showed no emotion. When led away he half waved to Dottie his wife and family members. He was hit with insults from bystanders including one person who shouted for him to “rot in hell.”
Eight of the ten victims testified at the trial describing forced oral sex, anal rape and fondling. The majority of the accusers said they had not told anyone of their abuse including their parents, girlfriends or police. The abuse dates back to the mid 1990s.
On victim, now 25 broke down and cried upon hearing the verdict. He said in his testimony that Sandusky called himself by the nickname tickle monster while assaulting the youngster in a shower.
Defense attorneys said the case was very difficult and they had wished they were given more time to deal with the evidence. They also said the case would be appealed.
Sandusky repeatedly denied throughout the scandal the allegations against him. His attorneys had suggested that the accusers might have had a financial motive to fabricate the stories.
