Jerry Sandusky Guilty: Your Thoughts on the Verdict?
Jerry Sandusky will probably spend the rest of his life in prison. Do you agree with the verdict? Vote in our poll.
Disgraced ex-Penn State football coach Jerry Sandusky was declared guilty on 45 of 48 counts of child sex abuse Friday night, resulting in a likely de facto life sentence for the 68-year-old.
The guilty verdicts, including 25 felony counts, could add up to 442 years in prison.
Sandusky, dressed in a brown sports coat, was immediately taken into custody and led from the courthouse in handcuffs.
The jury—which included many people with close ties to Penn State University—deliberated for only 20 hours, making a guilty verdict seem like a foregone conclusion.
The two-week trial featured damning testimony against Sandusky, who was accused of performing anal and oral sex on boys as young as 8 years old. Even Sandusky’s adopted son, Matt, said his father abused him as well, though his accusations weren't part of the trial.
Despite the lack of physical evidence and the time that had elapsed since the commission of the crimes, Sandusky's attorneys were unable to discredit the eight accusers. They declined to put their client on the stand.
“I feel, like many others, that the rapidity which with this jury has reached [a verdict] makes it all but certain it should be a guilty verdict,” Michael Boni, attorney for “Victim No. 1” told CNN’s Piers Morgan minutes before the decision was announced.
Even Sandusky’s own legal team didn’t expect an acquittal. Earlier Friday, Sandusky’s attorney Joseph Amendola said he would “probably die of a heart attack” if the ex-coach was found not guilty.
Tell us: Did the jury reach the right verdict? Sound off in the comments.
Deborah Manzo-Falco
1:22 pm on Saturday, June 23, 2012
THANK GOD IT WASN'T MY SON!!! That's all I have to say!
Diane A
8:28 am on Sunday, June 24, 2012
Yes without a doubt
Lorraine Valente
10:22 am on Sunday, June 24, 2012
Justice has been served. Commending those brave boys and young men who came forward, breaking the code of silence and secrecy. Now his victims may heal years of emotional pain. Silence it "not" Golden.
Karen Edmond
9:58 am on Monday, June 25, 2012
You got that right!
Gerri Hopkins
10:26 am on Sunday, June 24, 2012
Yes he is guilty. The shame of the matter is this went on for so, so long when there where people in authority who were also aware and could have put an end to it but they did not! Shame on all of them. And I'm sure the wife knew what was going on as well. She was protecting herself from not only prosecution but from a financial standpoint as well as her community standing. Get out of town lady. Who needs a liar who cares more about herself than those poor young boys who were victimized for so many years! Both of you will rot in hell! Amen for that.
Lorraine Valente
10:55 am on Sunday, June 24, 2012
A "victim fund" should be set up to have his tenure payments directly deposited into it for restitution towards these young men.
Paul
11:23 am on Sunday, June 24, 2012
Life sentence is all he received? He got lucky. They should create some kind of sex offender island and air drop all these people. Let them take care of themselves.
jerry kadash
11:45 am on Sunday, June 24, 2012
I'm sure there's a "special place" for people like him, who have the audacity to prey on children, while seemingly living a normal life. It's unfortunate for everyone involved, that it's taken so long, but finally justice has been served.
linda s
1:02 pm on Sunday, June 24, 2012
justice was served. the victims are couragous to testify. he deserves to rot in hell.
nancy freeman
1:19 pm on Sunday, June 24, 2012
I think his wife should have some kind of responsibility it this. She knew something,howver everyone has a conscience,and hes won't give her any peace whatsoever and righfully so.
Lorraine Valente
5:25 pm on Sunday, June 24, 2012
Well, many homosexual men marry or enter the priesthood <ahem> and their wive's live in denial. The length of the sentence is actually irrelevant (he is already 68 years old) because from what I have heard/read, pedophiles receive special treatment in prison.
Bob Basher
10:47 pm on Sunday, June 24, 2012
I have had it happen to me from a trusted teacher....I loved this guy...as a friend..he was like the dad I never saw because he held 2 jobs to keep us in private schools....I did not know what to do....I never let it go farther then it did one time....it ruined my life....at 53 I still have relationship problems and the need to know Im normal. I know logicly it was not my fault but tell that to my brain....so to the guys whom this happened to...it will never be over period. To all those who seek to do this...you never know when we will come after you when we are older ans wiser.......or if we will....we never forget.
Swift Loris
11:05 pm on Sunday, June 24, 2012
Lorraine, don't confuse homosexuality with child molestation or pedophilia. There's no evidence that homosexuals are any more likely to molest children than heterosexuals. Pedophiles and child molesters get "special treatment" in many prisons by being segregated from the rest of the prisoners for their own safety.
Karen Edmond
9:56 am on Monday, June 25, 2012
The safety, & well being of a child, or children, should be the first priority of a civilized people, or person. So yes, the ruling was fair and just. And we do pray that more intervention, and prevention, varibles, be set in motion, to protect children, (particularly,disadvantage Black male youth.) I say that because the majority of the young men violated per Mr. Sandusky, happenstance to Black children. (Unfortunatedly our country holds a long legacy of abusive behavior towards Black children in particular, ref: Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome Dr. Joy DeGruy.) Reparations should be given to all the families whose children where exposed to these horrible abuses, & atrocities. Some of those children will never be the same.
I hope Mr. Sandusky gets the desparately needed, psychological, counseling, he needs, so that he can renew, his mind, and cast out, the demons, that have been tormenting, him to act in such a manner around little children & his staff.
Dominick Palermo
3:09 pm on Monday, June 25, 2012
You really think "counseling" will help him?????? -This isnt his 1st time at the rodeo--------- He deserves to be locked up for life --This way thier is no chance of him doing this to another kid -Wont make any difference what he does in prison -----The inmates will be glad to "use" him as he did those kids
Dominick Palermo
3:05 pm on Monday, June 25, 2012
Hope the inmates have "fun" time with him