Jerry Sandusky, former Penn State assistant football coach who was convicted of 45 counts of child sexual abuse, professes his innocence from his jail cell. NBC's Brian Williams reports.
By Sevil Omer and M. Alex Johnson, NBC News
New in this version: Statement from Sandusky; reaction from attorney; links to text and audio
Updated at 8:27 p.m. ET: Former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky insisted Monday that "I did not do these alleged disgusting acts" and blamed a systematic conspiracy among police, Penn State administrators and the media for his conviction on 45 counts of child sexual abuse.
"They can take away my life, they can make me out as a monster, they can treat me as a monster, but they can't take away my heart," Sandusky, 68, who is to be sentenced Tuesday, said in a three-minute statement recorded from his jail cell in Bellefonte, Pa., and aired on the Penn State student radio station.
Tom Winter and Michael Isikoff of NBC News and Lu Ann Cahn and Karen Araiza of NBC station WCAU-TV of Philadelphia contributed to this report by Sevil Omer and M. Alex Johnson of NBC News.
Sandusky said his accusers were part of a "well-orchestrated effort of the media, investigators, the system, Penn State, psychologists (and) civil attorneys" to falsely put him in prison.
"My wife has been my only sex partner, and that was after marriage. Our love continues," he said.
Related: Full statement from Jerry Sandusky
Related: Audio of Sandusky's statement on Penn State student station ComRadio
"Over and over, I asked why? Why didn't we have a fair opportunity to prepare for trial?" Sandusky said. "Why have so many people suffered as a result of false allegations?"
He said his accusers chose to join his Second Mile program for troubled boys "because of issues" and said that "some of those may remain."
Sandusky said he hoped his experience would help others, saying: "Some vulnerable children who could be abused might not be because of all the publicity. That would be nice, but I'm not sure about it."
Karl Rominger, an attorney for Sandusky, told NBC News that ?he hadn't known of Sandusky's plans to issue the statement beforehand. After hearing it, he said it sounded like his client.
Earlier, Sandusky's lead attorney, Joe Amendola, said his client was prepared for the worst when he is sentenced on 45 counts of child sexual abuse Tuesday.
"He's going to say that he?s innocent," Amendola told NBCPhiladelphia. com.
Sandusky, who had become a hometown hero as a Penn State coach and as a champion for underprivileged boys, was convicted in June of abusing 10 boys over ?15 years, including some?attacks inside Penn State's athletic facilities.
Before the judge decides how much time Sandusky will spend in prison, some of his victims may speak out, as may Sandusky.
View NBCPhiladelphia's complete coverage of Penn State scandal
"Jerry will not be having anyone speak on his behalf," Amendola told NBC News on Monday before participating in a closed-door meeting with prosecutors and Judge John Cleland to discuss sentencing logistics.?
Attorney Ben Andreozzi, who represents Victim 4, told the Patriot News that nothing surprises him from Sandusky.
"I keep hoping he will do the right thing and take responsibility for his actions but it appears that day will never come," Andreozzi said.
Sentencing is expected to begin with a hearing to determine whether Sandusky qualifies as a sexually violent predator under Pennsylvania's version of Megan's Law, after which Sandusky will be sentenced.
Sandusky will likely spend the rest of his life in prison, given his age and the serious nature of his convictions. Several of the counts carry mandatory minimum sentences of five or 10 years.
Amendola said Sandusky is prepared to hear the worst.
"It's going to be tantamount to a life sentence for Jerry,"?Amendola told NBCPhiladelphia.com.
Amendola?told NBC News that he has letters defending Sandusky, including one from his wife, Dottie Sandusky, who?stands by her husband and will attend the sentencing.
Sandusky admits to no wrongdoing, Amendola said, but he does admit making a mistake.
?What Jerry has always said, his mistake was using bad judgment and doing some of the things that led up to the accusations ? getting showers with kids," Amendola told NBCPhiladelphia.com. "He said he should have realized, obviously, that wasn't the thing to do. But he's always maintained and still maintains his innocence."
Sandusky has spent the last three months in a cell with a bed, a sink and a toilet.
"It?s a Spartan life. He?s isolated," Amendola said. "Not because he's bad, not because they think he's a bad person, but for his own protection.?
Sandusky has been busy writing a detailed document that he is convinced will be the key to his appeal.
'He was set up'
"I believe that he was set up; I really do," Amendola said, according to NBCPhiladelphia.com. "I believe this started out as an investigation into Jerry Sandusky, but as soon as the power people realized that this could also implicate Penn State, I think this took on a life of its own."
Analysis: What to expect at Sandusky's sentencing
Amendola said there were inconsistencies in the testimony from accusers that jurors simply ignored.
"If Jerry Sandusky did all the things these young people said he did, he didn?t have time to do anything else ? he didn?t have time to be a parent, he didn't have time to be an assistant coach at Penn State ? my God, he was busy doing all these sexual activities with all these kids!"
Sandusky is more than ready to be sentenced, Amendola said, because for them, the sentencing finally triggers the appeals process. The basis of their appeal will be that Sandusky was denied due process.
Looking back, Amendola said he does have regrets ? Sandusky should have testified, and his lawyers should have asked for an out-of-county jury. But the biggest regret was the interview with Bob Costas of NBC's "Rock Center."
When Sandusky walks into court Tuesday, he?ll look different from ?the last time, when he was handcuffed after his guilty verdict and led away in his starched white shirt and brown sports coat.
"You?re going to see a guy who's lost some weight," Amendola said. "They may have him dressed in prison garb ... the bright orange. And he?s lost weight. But he's feisty!"
Ex-Penn State football aide McQueary files $4M whistleblower lawsuit
Amendola said Sandusky's spirits are unbelievably high.
"He really believes that he's going to be vindicated," Amendola said. "He really anticipates he's going to get another shot at this.
More content from NBCNews.com:
Follow US news from NBCNews.com on Twitter and Facebook
sam hurd arrested roddy white roddy white howard stern howard stern free shipping day free shipping day
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.