Breaking: Verdict Reached in the Jerry Sandusky Case

A verdict has been reached in the sexual abuse trial of former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky...

Earlier tonight, Jerry Sandusky’s defense attorney, Joe Amendola, said that he would probably “die of a heart attack” if his client were acquitted on all counts. That must feel great to hear that as a client, don’t you think? But perhaps it served as a much needed 1-800-REALITY check.

Sandusky, Penn State’s former assistant football coach, has been charged with 48 counts of sex abuse against 10 boys over a 15-year period, and after only two days of deliberations, Jerry Sandusky’s fate has been sealed by a jury of his peers.

What was the jury’s decision?

Jerry Sandusky has been found guilty on 45 of the 48 counts against him, and his bail has been revoked. While most bystanders cheered as Sandusky was ushered out of the courthouse and into the back of a police cruiser, another shouted, “Rot in hell, Sandusky!” And he likely will — he faced up to 472 years in prison and at least $645,000 in fines if convicted of all 48 counts. Sandusky will be sentenced in approximately 90 days.

Joe Amendola spoke to the media after the verdict was announced, and noted that Sandusky’s family was very disappointed, but respected the result reached. In fact, Amendola called this an “expected outcome,” but he has plans to pursue many of the “decent” appeal issues that he claims are present. He ended his comments on a sour note and was met with jeers following suggestions that his client may have been wrongly convicted. We bet that some audience members were wishing for Amendola’s hypothetical heart attack at that point.

Shortly thereafter, Linda Kelly, Pennsylvania’s Attorney General, gave an impassioned speech about child sexual abuse, and the need to raise awareness about the issue. Almost as if scripted, she concluded her remarks as church bells rang in the distance to note the eleven o’clock hour.

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Hot on the heels of the announcement of the verdict, Penn State released a statement noting its desire to settle with Sandusky’s victims. The statement, available in full on the next page, reads in pertinent part:

Now that the jury has spoken, the University wants to continue that dialogue and do its part to help victims continue their path forward. To that end, the University plans to invite victims of Mr. Sandusky’s abuse to participate in a program to facilitate the resolution of claims against the University arising out of Mr. Sandusky’s conduct.

The purpose of the program is simple – the University wants to provide a forum where the University can privately, expeditiously and fairly address the victims’ concerns and compensate them for claims relating to the University. Counsel to the University plan to reach out to counsel to the victims of Mr. Sandusky’s abuse in the near future with additional details.

What was your reaction to the Sandusky verdict? What do you think of Penn State’s apparent offer to settle with the victims? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

UPDATE (12:05 a.m.): Joe Amendola appeared on Anderson Cooper 360 just moments after he learned that Jerry Sandusky would likely be spending the rest of his days behind bars. As he was being mic’d up, he wondered whether he’d be interviewed by “somebody cute.” Zealous client representation for the win.

If you’re interested, check out the full breakdown of the Sandusky verdict on the next page, courtesy of CNN….

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