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Former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky walks into the courthouse before jury selection begins in the child sex abuse trial on June 5, 2012 in Bellefonte, Pa. Sandusky is a former Penn State assistant football coach charged with sexually abusing children.
By Msnbc.com staff and wire
Jury selection got under way Tuesday inside a central Pennsylvania courthouse, where former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky will stand trial for charges of child sex abuse.
According to reports from the courtroom, the jury selection officially started later than scheduled with 220 prospective jurors out of the 600 who were called. The pool will be narrowed to 12 jurors and four alternates.
TV trucks surrounded the courtroom, as potential jurors began slowly filing into the front door of the courthouse around 8 a.m. One man wore a gray Penn State sweat shirt, The Associated Press reported.
Jurors are being chosen from among people who live in the State College area, where Penn State's main campus is located, AP reported.
Sandusky and his lawyer, Joe Amendola, made no comments as they arrived on Tuesday. He has repeatedly denied the charges.
Sandusky, 68, faces 52 criminal counts for alleged abuse of 10 boys over 15 years. Some of the alleged victims are expected to testify.
Previous report: Sandusky accusers must use real identities at trial
On Monday, a a judge ruled the alleged victims would have to use their real names when they testified. Lawyers for five accusers had requested their clients be allowed to use pseudonyms.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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