BELLEFONTE, Pennsylvania - A jury in Centre County has convicted former Penn State football coach Jerry Sandusky of sexually abusing children over the course of several decades while a coach and coach emeritus at Penn State.
The jury, which deliberated for two days, found Sandusky guilty of 45 of 48 charges of sexual abuse in a case that has rocked the normally sleepy community of Centre County.
Allegations of a cover-up by high ranking Penn State officials led to the firing of longtime head football coach Joe Paterno, who died several months later at the age of 85. Perjury charges against two Penn State administrators who allegedly lied to a grand jury about their knowledge of the sexual abuse are still pending.
Sandusky, once hailed as a hero in State College where his defenses anchored two Penn State national title teams, now faces about 440 years in prison.
A large crowd had gathered around the courthouse in Bellefonte. They cheered when "guilty" was the verdict.
Charles J. Johnson
Tribune Newspapers
8:57 p.m. CDT, June 22, 20
Source
The jury, which deliberated for two days, found Sandusky guilty of 45 of 48 charges of sexual abuse in a case that has rocked the normally sleepy community of Centre County.
Allegations of a cover-up by high ranking Penn State officials led to the firing of longtime head football coach Joe Paterno, who died several months later at the age of 85. Perjury charges against two Penn State administrators who allegedly lied to a grand jury about their knowledge of the sexual abuse are still pending.
Sandusky, once hailed as a hero in State College where his defenses anchored two Penn State national title teams, now faces about 440 years in prison.
A large crowd had gathered around the courthouse in Bellefonte. They cheered when "guilty" was the verdict.
Charles J. Johnson
Tribune Newspapers
8:57 p.m. CDT, June 22, 20
Source
crossfire 23rd-Jun-2012 08:02 pm (UTC)