Ex-Penn State Assistant Coach Jerry Sandusky Convicted of Sexual Abuse

Bellefonte, Pennsylvania

I haven’t really touched on this case (pardon the pun), because information has been readily available across all mediums, but now that the jury has spoken, I wanted to help bring it to a close.

On Friday, Jerry Sandusky was convicted of sexually assaulting 10 boys over 15 years, a firestorm that literally blew-up Penn State University's image and brought down Hall of Fame football coach Joe Paterno.

The 68-year-old Sandusky was found guilty of 45 of 48 counts and will probably spend the rest of his life in prison.

The jury consisted of seven women and five men, including nine with ties to Penn State. The jury deliberated more than 20 hours over two days before rendering a verdict.

There was little emotion from Sandusky as the verdict was read. Judge John Cleland revoked his bail and ordered him taken to the county jail to await sentencing in about three months.

Among those testifying against Sandusky were eight young men, who gave accounts about a range of abuse, from kissing and massages to groping, oral sex and anal rape. For two other alleged victims, prosecutors relied on testimony from a university janitor and then-graduate assistant Mike McQueary, whose account of a sexual encounter between Sandusky and a boy of about 10 ultimately led to Paterno's firing and the university president's ouster.

One accuser testified that Sandusky molested him in the locker-room showers and in hotels while trying to ensure his silence with gifts and trips to bowl games. He also said Sandusky had sent him "creepy love letters."

Another spoke of forced oral sex and instances of rape in the basement of Sandusky's home, including abuse that left him bleeding. He said he once tried to scream for help, knowing that Sandusky's wife was upstairs, but figured the basement must be soundproof.

Another, a foster child, said Sandusky warned that he would never see his family again if he ever told anyone what happened.

Even Sandusky’s adopted son was prepared to testify against him regarding abuse. Jerry Sandusky did not take the stand in his own defense.

Sandusky had initially faced 52 counts of sex abuse. The judge dropped four counts during the trial, saying two were unproven, one was brought under a statute that didn't apply and another was duplicative.