Share

Coach jailed after sex scandal

Bellefonte, Pennslvania - Former Penn State American football coach Jerry Sandusky was sentenced on Tuesday to between 30 and 60 years in prison, in a high-profile child sex case that shocked the country.

At an emotional hearing featuring tearful statements from victims, Judge John Cleland warned 68-year-old Sandusky that he was imposing a prison term that had "the unmistakable impact of being for the rest of your life."

Sandusky was convicted of 45 counts of child sex abuse in June, after a trial in which he was found guilty of molesting 10 children over a 15-year period, meeting them through a charity he founded for troubled youth.

The former coach, clad in a red prison scrubs with the words "Center County" on the back, gave a rambling, 20-minute statement during his sentencing hearing in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania.

He spoke about seeing visions on the dank walls of the prison where he has been incarcerated for the past 112 days since his conviction.

"I see me throwing thousands of kids in the air," Sandusky said. "And hundreds of water balloon battles."

Sandusky protested his innocence and did not apologise to his victims.

Prosecutors said Sandusky had all the advantages that should have led to a productive life, but instead spent his time setting up a charity that he used as a vehicle for child sex abuse.

"Instead of being a productive citizen," assistant attorney general Joseph McGettigan told the court, "he worked diligently to construct a mechanism to acquire victims."

Sandusky's attorney, Joe Amendola, asked Cleland to take into account his client's charity work.

Sandusky, who stood accused of molesting 10 boys between 1994 and 2008, allegedly recruited his young victims under the guise of a program he ran for abused and neglected youth.

Eight victims took the stand at his trial, offering graphic testimony about Sandusky's actions, on campus, in hotel rooms and at his home. Another coach told the court he saw Sandusky raping a boy in the showers at Penn State.

The headline-grabbing scandal has also tarnished the legacy of Pennsylvania State University, one of the country's most illustrious college football teams.

The scandal led to the downfall of Penn State's legendary head coach Joe Paterno, a national icon whose fall from grace came just a few weeks before his unexpected death from lung cancer in January at the age of 85.

Paterno was fired in November for failing to notify authorities when he was told Sandusky had been seen molesting a boy in the shower. The university's president, Graham Spanier, was also sacked.

Two other Penn State officials, Tim Curley and Gary Schultz, face trial for lying to a grand jury investigating Sandusky.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Should Siya Kolisi keep the captaincy as the Springboks build towards their World Cup title defence in 2027?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
Yes! Siya will only be 36 at the next World Cup. He can make it!
26% - 1271 votes
No! I think the smart thing to do is start again with a younger skipper ...
29% - 1469 votes
I'd keep Siya captain for now, but look to have someone else for 2027.
45% - 2240 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE