Sandusky Pension Probably Revoked, Family Letters Blame Everyone Else...

((HT: WHP-TV))

The state of Pennsylvania's public employee pension system has notified the Sandusky family that they're in the process of revoking Jerry Sandusky's state pension as a result of his conviction and sentencing this past week.

Sandusky's lawyer, Karl Rominger, has already said that Sandusky would fight any attempt to revoke his pension.

And, in a bit of a sidebar, the letters that Jerry and Dottie Sandusky wrote as part of their sentencing defense were released after judge John Cleland and Centre Court made the letters public. In them, the husband and wife, pretty much, blame everyone but themselves for the family's downfall: the victims, the media, the university, and the police.

Here the letters are in their entirety, thanks to CNN

Gloria Allred discusses with Soledad O'Brien
((HT: CNN))


Sandusky first laid this groundwork in a leaked radio interview the night before the sentencing...  

"My trust in people, systems and fairness has diminished," Sandusky said in part. "In my heart I know I did not do these disgusting acts. However, I didn't tell the jury. Our son changed our plans when he switched sides."

"There were so many people involved in the orchestration of this conviction (media, investigators, prosecutors, "the system," Penn State and the accusers.) It was well done. They won!"

Actually, coach, reality won for a change...

Just don't tell Dottie Sandusky...since she thinks her adopted son, Matt, is also at fault in all of this:  

"People need to know what kind of person he is," she wrote. "We have forgiven him many times for all he has done to our family, thinking that he was changing his life, but he would always go back to his stealing and lies. He has been diagnose (sic) Bipolar, but he refuses to take his medicine."

Uh-huh... keep talking...
It's just that no one is listening...

DEVELOPING:Sandusky Sentenced To 30-60 Years

((HT: WHP-TV/KDKA-TV/ESPN))

Judge John Cleland issued the sentence of 30-60 years in jail on 45 counts of child sexual abuse, as Jerry Sandusky was convicted of molesting 10 boys over a 15-year period and using a charity he established as nothing less than a front for continuing his abuse and enacting consistent betrayal on minors. It had been three months after a jury convicted him on the charges

Sandusky maintains his innocence, says he is not a monster and says he didn't do the "alleged disgusting acts." The appeals process is going to start in the next few weeks...

Penn State President Rodney Erickson released the following statement:

"Our thoughts today, as they have been for the last year, go out to the victims of Jerry Sandusky’s abuse. 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."

The university still intends to settle with victims in a timely manner- as they well should...

Sandusky read a statement in open court:

“I feel a need to talk not from arrogance but from the heart. I did not do these disgusting acts. As I began to relive everything, it was a terrible feeling and my eyes filled with tears. Maybe some children who might have been abused will not be because of the publicity. The pain continues when I think about the people who’ve made the allegations. I’ve been confined to a small room. There are outbursts in the jail.”

“I told Dottie, ‘We’re definitely in the fourth quarter.’ Those who still believe in us are the only ones who matter. Not being able to hug my grandchildren, not being able to play with the dog. Yet, I get letters of support. I see family and friends, I see special inmates who smile at me."

In response at the sentencing hearing, some of the victims and their family representatives gave statements as well, from KDKA-TV:

Several of the victims gave statements during the hearing:

Victim No. 9’s mother:

“I have had to endure my son’s suicide attempts all because of you. You’ve destroyed my family and I can never forgive you of that. Shame on you. Shame on you Mr. Sandusky,” she said.

Victim No. 1:

“There are no words to describe the pain and misery Jerry Sandusky has inflicted on my life. There are thoughts I didn’t want to think. I have been looking over my shoulder for a long time. There is no remorse in Jerry Sandusky, only evil.”

Victim No. 4:

“Rather than take accountability for your actions, you attacked us as though we did something wrong. I will never forgive you. I was in a troubled situation and you made it worse.”

Victim No. 5:

“He forcibly had me touch him. I am troubled with flashbacks of his naked body. I am tormented by nightmares and guilt. I will never erase the filthy images, but he must pay for his crimes. He took away my childhood the day he assaulted me. He should be sentenced accordingly.”

Victim No. 6:

“My personality changed for the worst. That night you called yourself the tickle monster so you could touch my 11-year-old body, has damaged me for life. The Bible says if we confess our sins he will forgive us. You are trying to speak forth your innocence. You are only fooling yourself. You won’t be able to receive forgiveness.”

John Barr and Roger Cossack discuss:
((HT: ESPN))


More when we know more...

Sandusky Trial: Strange comments by the Defense Attorney

Very little surrounding the trial of former Penn State assistant coach Jerry Sandusky has been normal. Jury deliberation is gone 24-hours now and according to reports, will continue into the weekend.

From the depth and length of charges to the testimony, the trial has been somewhat fascinating to monitor.

Which makes comments spoken today by Sandusky's attorney Joe Amendola all the more bizarre.

Amendola, slightly violating Judge John Cleland's gag order told several assembled reporters this afternoon that if his client is acquitted of all 48 remaining charges, "I'd probably die of a heart attack".

He also added "Do you know the odds are of walking on 52 charges? The likelihood is strong that he'll (Sandusky) be convicted of something".

And he went further, telling reporters his client  "Is an overgrown child. Kids tend to be naïve & not really appreciate the seriousness of what they are facing."

We might add that he was immediately called into Judge Cleland's office after this, we're guessing the conversation was not positive.

The general consensus right now is the jury is being very deliberate and careful about what they decide. That is why it is taking some time.

And while we, like most believe this case is a slam dunk, we find it utterly amazing that a defense attorney would say what Amendola did.

But then again, considering everything else that's been brought out in this case, it probably shouldn't come as so much of a surprise.

9 Jurors Picked For Sandusky Trial

((HT: WPVI-TV Philadelphia))

In the first round of questioning of 40 prospective jurors (out of 220 prospective and more than 600 summons) for the Jerry Sandusky trial, about half said they or immediate family members worked at Penn State or were university retirees.

But there seems to be a lot of people who believe that an open mind can be kept in the case.

The former Penn State coach faces 52 criminal counts and potential penalties that could yield, basically, a life prison sentence for alleged abuse involving 10 boys. He has denied the allegations.

Of course...

Chad Pradelli was outside the courtroom...


Judge John Cleland thinks he'll be able to start the case Monday, and Cleland believes the trial will go for three weeks...

Bully for him if he thinks that...