BELLEFONTE, Pa. - Late Friday evening the jury in the Jerry Sandusky sex-abuse case found the former Penn State football coach guilty on 45 counts of child sexual abuse and molestation.
The decision came on the second day of deliberation of the fast-paced eight-day trial. A jury of seven women and five men found the 68 year-old guilty of 45 out of the 48 counts against him for sexual abuse of eight victims over a span of 15 years.
Joseph Amendolo, Sandusky defense attorney blames the defeat on the court's denial of a delay earlier month, arguing that the defense team was not given enough time to prepare for the case.
Sandusky was taken away. His sentencing will be held in the next few months.
Friday morning, as the jury had started deliberations, the former coach's 33-year-old adopted son, Matt Sandusky, alleged that he too was abused by Sandusky. Although Matt's revelation comes too late in the scene, as jury has already started deliberation and admitting Matt's testimony would mean a fresh case with new jury, which will just delay the entire process, the alleged confession only seems to bolster prosecutors' case.
Throughout the case defense maintained that the victims had ulterior motives for alleging the abuse. The heart of the defense lied in showing Sandusky's character and reputation to be noble. Throughout the week defense is tired to discredit the testimonies of alleged victims and their parents. Amendola has constantly stated and argued that the victims have been ambiguous about date and time details of the alleged attacks. .
All nine alleged victims claimed that the 68-year-old ex-coach had bought them gifts and told them he loved them. They have testified to incidents where Sandusky touched them in showers, and abused them in his house.
Judge John Cleland dropped three of the 51 charges of sex-abuse, claiming that there was not sufficient.
The university now faces at least two formal investigation and the two senior university officials are expected to face trial.
