Thirty to 60 years. That’s the sentence for convicted child molester Jerry Sandusky. The judge decided Sandusky will spend the rest of his life in a jail cell after abusing 10 boys over a 15-year period.
It’s a defacto life sentence for the 68-year-old former Penn State Assistant football coach. The judge gave Sandusky a tongue lashing, calling his crime the worst kind of all. The judge saying Sandusky preyed on young people who trusted him. For that crime, he will spend the rest of his life behind bars.
Jerry Sandusky walked into Centre County court yesterday with his life on the line. The convicted child molester received a sentence of 30 to 60 years in prison.
“I think the judgement sends a message that while what was done was serious and while it required retribution, it didn`t require gratuitous retribution,” said Sandusky co-counsel and Carlisle attorney Karl Rominger.
Three of the ten victims confronted Sandusky in court once again, solidifying his fate. Victim six lead off, describing his life since the abuse
“I have been left with deep painful wounds that words can simply not defend,” he said.
Victim five addressed the judge and Sandusky to talk about how he is surviving everyday since the attacks.
“I continue to be haunted by the incident that has negatively impacted my life. Now i have been cast into a place i didn`t want to be,” he said.
“The victim’s statements are a vivid reminder of the defendant`s brutal crimes though no reminder was needed,” said Senior Deputy Attorney General Joseph McGettigan.
Following the victims, Jerry Sandusky took the stand for 20 minutes trying to convince the judge of a lighter sentence. Just like his radio address on Monday, the embattled former football coach proclaimed his innocence. “Jerry Sandusky never flinched from his position that he was innocent and he wanted to prove his innocence,” said Sandusky’s attorney Joe Amendola.
“His statement last night was the same as it was today in court, a banal, delusional, self-referential, ludicrous statement,” McGettigan said.
Sandusky was convicted in June of 45 counts of abusing children. The judge had the leeway to sentence him from 10 to over 400 years in prison. The sentence means Sandusky will never again see the light of day.
“He is going to be incarcerated for the rest of his life and I think that is a comfort level for everyone in that courtroom,” said Ben Andreozzi, attorney for Victim 4.
Under Pennsylvania law, now that Sandusky has been sentenced, he can begin the appeals process. The defense team has 10 days to get an appeal filed in court.
Jerry Sandusky will spend at least the next 10 days in the Centre County Jail before being placed in the state prison system for the rest of his life.
Original Story:
Former Penn State football coach Jerry Sandusky is sentenced to 30 to 60 years in prison for child sex abuse.
A Centre County judge sentenced 68-year-old Sandusky to 30-60 years in state prison after being convicted on 45 counts of child sex abuse for molesting 10 boys over 15 years. Sandusky will be credited for 112 days already served.
Judge Cleland ordered Sandusky to pay $1,706 in restitution.
After being sentenced, Sandusky will spend ten days in Centre County prison until he is transferred to Camp Hill state prison.
The following statement was released today by Penn State President Rodney Erickson regarding the Jerry Sandusky sentencing: “Our thoughts today, as they have been for the last year, go out to the victims of Jerry Sandusky’s abuse. While today’s sentence cannot erase what has happened, hopefully it will provide comfort to those affected by these horrible events and help them continue down the road to recovery.”
Governor Tom Corbett today released the following statement regarding today’s sentencing of Jerry Sandusky:
“I want to thank the career prosecutors, state troopers, and agents who conducted this thorough and intensive investigation. These cases are difficult in the best of circumstances. It is to the credit of these investigators, along with the resilience of the victims, resulting in an airtight case, the conviction of 45 crimes and now, today’s sentence. I want to especially commend the victims in the case, who had the courage to come forward and testify in open court, in spite of tremendous pressure and national publicity. Today’s sentence will hopefully give comfort to those young men, whose trust in the justice system is rewarded by seeing this man go to prison for the rest of his life.”
On Monday, just a day before sentencing, Sandusky released a taped statement from prison on Penn State’s student radio station. In the statement, Sandusky denied he committed the “alleged disgusting acts” and said his wife has been his only sex partner.