Now that the sexual abuse trial of Jerry Sandusky has wrapped up, Governor Tom Corbett is responding to criticism over the length of time it took that case to go to trial.
Friday, Sandusky was convicted on 45 counts of sexual abusing 10 boys.
The first allegations of sexual abuse against Sandusky were brought forth by one victim’s mother in 2009, when Corbett was state attorney general.
The case didn’t pick up steam until after Corbett became governor in 2011, with some arguing the delay was a calculated move on Corbett’s part – so that the sensitive case would not affect his run for governor.
Corbett said prosecutors needed that time to build an iron-clad case.
“If you go with one case, and you lose it, there could have been other victims out there, who wouldn’t come forward,” Corbett said.
Corbett also saying the celebrity status of the former Penn State assistant football coach required more evidence gathering than the average case.
“We had to have, the best possible case to go against somebody like Mr. Sandusky, who was, go back to what everybody thought he was. A coach, players loved him, created the Second Mile,” he said.
The governor admitted there was a risk that Sandusky could abuse more children while the state built its case. But he said he believes that did not happen.
“I believe he had to know we were looking at him at some point in time,” Corbett said. “So if you know that they’re looking at you, you kind of, you kind of back away.”
Jerry Sandusky’s sentencing is expected in about three months. He’s being held in the Centre County Jail separate from other inmates. His attorneys plan to appeal his conviction.