During the first day of Jerry Sandusky's sexual abuse trial, an alleged victim of the former Penn State assistant football coach testified about the "horsing around" that he says eventually turned into five years of sexual abuse during which Sandusky treated him like "his girlfriend." NBC's Michael Isikoff reports.
By NBC News and msnbc.com staff
The child sex-abuse trial against former Penn State assistant coach Jerry Sandusky entered its second day Tuesday in a Bellefonte, Pa., courtroom, where alleged Victim 1 was expected to testify.
Sandusky, 68, denies all 52 counts alleging that he abused 10 boys over 15 years. Two grand jury reports accused him of having used his connection to one of the nation's premier college football programs to "groom" the boys, whom he met through his Second Mile charity for troubled children, for sexual relationships.
Victim 1 is the Central Mountain High School student who told the grand jury Sandusky had abused him for years at his home, during trips, and even on high school property, where Sandusky was a volunteer coach.
Former U.S. Attorney Kendall Coffey and former prosecutor Star Jones discuss the first day of Jerry Sandusky's sexual abuse trial and whether defense attorneys will advise the former Penn State assistant coach to take the stand.
Sandusky's attorney, Joe Amendola, says the boy, now 17 or 18 years old, was troubled, and his story evolved in a way that appears coerced.
The trial before a jury of seven women and five men heard opened in Centre County Court Monday, culminating months of breathless coverage that led to the firing of head coach Joe Paterno, who won more games than any other major college football coach in history, many of them with Sandusky at his side.
Paterno died in January, a few weeks after he was dismissed for having failed to report Sandusky's alleged abuse.
Victim 1 has been the most public of the alleged victims.
In the indictment, Victim 1 previously testified that Sandusky would "crack his back" in the basement bedroom at the Sandusky house. He would roll under the boy and then, lying face to face, would run his arms up and down his back to "crack it." This happened many times before Victim 1 entered 6th or 7th grade.
Accuser says Sandusky treated him like 'girlfriend' in graphic encounters
Victim 1 also testified that Sandusky performed oral sex on him more than 20 times between 2007 and 2008. During that same time, Victim 1 was forced to perform oral sex on Sandusky, he said, and touch his penis with his hands. Victim 1 then began distancing himself from Sandusky, asking his mother to tell him he wasn't home when he called.
The first of eight alleged victims — identified as alleged Victim 4 — testified Monday, saying he endured more than 40 "very uncomfortable" incidents involving Sandusky during a two-year period when he was 12 and 13 years old.
Disturbing details emerged at the sexual abuse trial of former assistant Penn State football coach Jerry Sandusky. During the emotional testimony, the first witness who was identified in court documents as 'Victim 4,' said he was a teenager when the abuse began. NBC's John Yang reports.
In rides in his car, Sandusky would put the man's hand on his knee, "basically like I was his girlfriend," which he said "freaked me out."
NBC: Former Penn State president could face charges in Sandusky case
"I could not stand it, and it happened almost every time I was in the car" with Sandusky, he said.
The witness said under cross-examination that he regretted not having come forward earlier. Had he done so, he said, he might not feel responsible "for these other victims being molested."
In his opening statement, Amendola painted the eight alleged victims as troubled youths out for a big payday in court.
Although the men are being identified by name in court, NBC News and msnbc.com do not identify the victims of alleged sexual assaults.
More content from msnbc.com and NBC News:
- Suspected pair of lungs found on LA sidewalk
- Massachusetts town approves $20 fine for swearing in public
- Police leave home after search for Auburn shootings suspect
- FBI: Violent crime rates in US approach historic lows
- Sandusky child sex-abuse trial under way
- Video: Abandoned by parents, she finds home at Harvard
