Ex-Penn State football assistant Sandusky handed 30+year prison term

Bellefonte, PA, United States (NewsBahn) – Former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky was handed a 30 to 60 year prison term Tuesday in the wake of a child abuse sex scandal that shamed a university and soiled the reputation of a once legendary football coach in Joe Paterno.

Sandusky had a confusing, rambling reaction to the sentencing while still denying the allegations.

“I’ve forgiven, I’ve been forgiven. I’ve comforted others, I’ve been comforted. I’ve been kissed by dogs, I’ve been bit by dogs,” he said. “I’ve conformed, I’ve also been different. I’ve been me. I’ve been loved, I’ve been hated.”

Three victims spoke at the sentencing and a pair embraced after the court session was over.

Sandusky, 68, racked up 45 counts of child sexual abuse, and was convicted of molesting 10 boys over a 15-year period.

At his age, the 30-year minimum sentence is considered a likely life sentence as Judge John Cleland indicated.

Penn State, which went through a great deal during the situation, including the firing and subsequent passing of Paterno due to health issues—and as some opined due in part to a broken-heart—and the firing of key school officials, issued a statement following the sentencing.

“Our thoughts today, as they have been for the last year, go out to the victims of Jerry Sandusky’s abuse,” Penn State president Rodney Erickson said in a statement. “While today’s sentence cannot erase what has happened, hopefully it will provide comfort to those affected by these horrible events and help them continue down the road to recovery.”

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