Sandusky sentenced to at least 30 years in prison

Posted: October 9, 2012 at 7:30 a.m.
Updated: October 9, 2012 at 9:30 a.m.

AP/Gene J. Puskar
Former Penn State University assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky, left, is escorted by a police officer past photographers as he arrives for sentencing at the Centre County Courthouse in Bellefonte, Pa., on Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2012.

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BELLEFONTE, Pa. — Jerry Sandusky was sentenced Tuesday to at least 30 years in prison in the child sexual-abuse scandal that brought shame to Penn State University and led to coach Joe Paterno’s downfall.

The sentence means the 68-year-old former Penn State assistant coach will be in prison at least until he’s nearly 100 years old.

Judge John Cleland issued the sentence Tuesday, three months after a jury convicted Sandusky on 45 counts of child sexual abuse.

Sandusky maintains his innocence and plans to appeal, a process his lawyer has said will probably begin in the coming weeks.

In the three-minute monologue aired Monday night by Penn State Com Radio, Sandusky said he knows in his heart that he did not do what he called “these alleged disgusting acts” and described himself as the victim of Penn State, investigators, civil attorneys, the media and others.

“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,” he said. “In my heart, I know I did not do these alleged disgusting acts. My wife has been my only sex partner, and that was after marriage.”

Read tomorrow's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.

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