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Jerry Sandusky has appealed his conviction for raping a child. He is a former Penn State football assistant coach.
WJAC reported that “new evidence,” which claims misconduct by the prosecutor, was presented during the 2012 trial in which Sandusky (81), was found guilty of 45 counts of molestation of young boys.
Nearly 400 pages of exhibits, affidavits and other documents claim that the prosecutors “coached”, two of eight boys who gave testimony against him in the 10-day trial. Other victims didn’t testify.
The Daily Collegian – the student newspaper of Penn State – first reported Sandusky’s abuse in 1998. However, these allegations were eventually dropped due to unusual circumstances. This led to a change in the way that investigations of this nature were conducted.
New York Times reports that Sandusky, after a grand jury probe lasting two years, was then indicted in 2011 on 52 counts for abusing boys between 1994 and 2009. The New York Times reported that Sandusky met his victims via The Second Mile (a 1977 charity that works with at-risk and underprivileged youth). The charges against him were reduced to four before the trial.
This scandal has caused a stir in the Penn State community and football team, as well as the dismissal of the legendary coach Joe Paterno who failed to disclose allegations against his assistant.
PBS reports that the jury deliberated for two days and 21 hours before returning 45 guilty verdicts. These included eight counts each of unintentional sexual contact, seven counts indecent abuse, one charge of criminal intent, nine charges of illegal contact with minors as well as 10 counts corruption of minors. Three other charges were dropped.
Sandusky has been sentenced to 60-years in prison, and will be eligible for parole by 2042.
CrimeOnline reports that in 2017, former Penn State president Graham Spanier and two other administrators received a sentence of a few jail months for failing to alert authorities regarding a 2001 accusation made against Sandusky. Former president Graham Spanier was sentenced to 4-12 months in jail, including two years behind bars. The rest of the time was spent under house arrest. Former athletic director Tim Curley was sentenced to 7-23 months with three jail months. Ex-vice president Gary Schultz received 6-24 months with 2 jail months.
In that case, the judge also criticised Paterno – who died six months prior to Sandusky’s trial in 2012 – and also who did not notify authorities of the 2001 complaint.
This complaint was filed by a graduate student assistant, who claimed to have seen Sandusky with a boy in the team shower. The allegation eventually found its way into an indictment of 2012.
According to The Associated Press, Penn State has also agreed that it will pay out more than 100 million dollars in compensation for claims made by 35 individuals who have accused Sandusky Sandusky molested them.
Sandusky has maintained his innocence and appealed the sentence in 2019. A judge then resentenced Sandusky to 30-60 years.
WJAC reports that Sandusky’s medical condition, which Sandusky claims would have restricted his physical activities, is revealed in Sandusky’s appeal. This claim states that Sandusky “suffered extraordinarily low testosterone levels.”
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[Featured image: FILE- Former Penn State University assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky leaves the Centre County Courthouse after attending a hearing on Nov. 22, 2019.(AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)]
