Saturday, June 23, 2012

Sandusky lawyers to appeal sex abuse convictions

(CBS News) BELLEFONTE, Pa. -- Defense attorneys say they will appeal the convictions of former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky.

A jury in Bellefonte, Pa., deliberated 20 hours over two days before convicting Sandusky of 45 charges of child sex abuse.

The jury of seven women and five men provided a resounding confirmation of the prosecution's case, convicting Sandusky on 45 of the 48 counts related to sexual abuse of young boys.

Time and time again, the jury foreman, a middle-aged man with gray hair, recited the same word, guilty, ringing out like a gun shot in a dead quiet courtroom 45 times Friday night.

Sandusky, 68, was standing, head down, left hand in his pants pocket, staring at the jury box.

Outside the Centre County Courthouse, a huge cheer arose from a large crowd when the news broke.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Linda Kelly took to a podium to declare that justice for 10 young men had finally been served.

"This defendant," she said, "a serial child predator who committed horrific acts upon his victims, causing lifelong and life-changing consequences for all of them, has been held accountable for his crimes."

The guilty counts included eight of the most serious charges, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, with each count carrying a maximum of 20 years in prison, nine counts of unlawful contact with minors, also carrying a 20-year maximum for each count, and 10 counts of endangering the welfare of a child," with a seven year maximum term for each count attached.

Sandusky was found guilty on all six counts related to victim number one, now 18, who broke down on the stand as he testified to being repeatedly sodomized by Sandusky beginning at age 13.

Another emotional accuser, victim number four, says he suffered years of sustained abuse, and found solace in five guilty counts.

Lead defense attorney Joe Amendola said, "I believe the jury acted genuinely and in good faith."

He said, in the end, a mountain of Commonwealth evidence was too much to climb.

"We were in an uphill battle, attempting to climb Mt. Everest from the bottom of the mount," he said. "Obviously, we didn't make it."

Moments after the verdicts were read, Sandusky's bond was revoked and he was immediately remanded to jail.

As he was escorted from court, he took one final glance to his right, to his wife of 45 years. Dottie Sandusky and her family hugged and broke down in tears.

Amendola told CBS News an appeal is planned but, barring a reversal of the convictions, the Sandusky will spend the rest of his life in prison.