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Patrick Smith/Getty Images
Former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky and his attorney Joe Amendola enter the Centre County Courthouse as the second day of jury selection begins in his child sex abuse trial on June 6 in Bellefonte, Pa.
Updated at 3:30 p.m. ET: BELLEFONTE, Pa. -- Lawyers have selected 12 jurors and alternates to hear the child sex abuse case against former Penn State assistant coach Jerry Sandusky.
The seven women and five men on the main panel and four alternates were selected Tuesday and Wednesday in a central Pennsylvania courthouse, according to The Patriot-News in Harrisburg, Pa.
Sandusky faces 52 counts involving 10 alleged victims over a 15-year span. The 68-year-old Sandusky has denied the allegations.
Sandusky's attorney told jurors seven members of the former coach's family had been on his list of potential witnesses.
The jury's composition reflects the area's strong connection to Penn State. It includes a Penn State senior, a retired professor and a woman who's been a football season ticket holder since the 1970s. The woman’s husband also works for the medical group where the father of a key witness Mike McQueary previously worked.
Sandusky's attorney had moved to strike the woman as a juror, but Judge John Cleland overruled his objection.
"We're in Centre County. We're in rural Pennsylvania," Cleland said. "There are these (connections) that cannot be avoided."
Cleland said that unless ties to witnesses or Sandusky were strong, relationships such as hers would not mean she could not serve on the jury, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.
Eighteen of 40 potential jurors told the court they are mandated by law to report suspected child abuse due to the nature of their job, according to a Patriot-News reporter following the selection process. In addition to the charges Sandusky faces, two top Penn State officials have been charged with not reporting an abuse incident brought to their attention in 2001 by then-assistant coach McQueary.
'Fair shake'
Twelve of the 40 jurors questioned Wednesday morning were excused, including one who knew Sandusky personally. Some were let go because of financial hardship; others because of previous vacation plans.
As jury selection continued, Cleland reiterated that the trial would start Monday at 9 a.m. and run until the end of June, according to PennLive.com. Cleland said he would not sequester the jury once the trial begins.
Forty prospective jurors were interviewed for the sexual abuse trial of former Penn State Coach Jerry Sandusky. NBC's Brian Williams reports.
Earlier, defense lawyer Joe Amendola arrived with Sandusky just after 8:15 a.m. and said he's confident the nine jurors already picked will give "us a fair shake."
Lead prosecutor Joseph McGettigan, Pennsylvania's senior deputy attorney general, said that jury selection was "so far, so good."
Prosecutors have 'bizarre' letters Sandusky wrote to victim, source tells NBC
Jurors are being chosen from among people who live in the State College area, where Penn State's main campus is located.
"I need you to all have an open mind," Cleland told jurors on Tuesday, according to PennLive.com. "This defendant is charged with sexual abuse of children."
9 jurors chosen so far in Jerry Sandusky trial
Sandusky, 68, faces 52 criminal counts for alleged abuse of 10 boys over 15 years. Some of the accusers are expected to testify. Sandusky has repeatedly denied the charges.
On Monday, the alleged victims were told they would have to use their real names when they testified. Lawyers for five accusers had requested their clients be allowed to use pseudonyms.
Victim #4
Prosecutors have obtained multiple incriminating and “bizarre” letters that Sandusky allegedly wrote to one of his accusers, who is known as Victim #4, NBC News reported Tuesday. The letters are allegedly written in the former coach's handwriting.
According to the indictment handed up against Sandusky, the defendant met the boy -- who is now 28 -- through his Second Mile charity and slowly won his trust by giving him gifts and other rewards.
"Victim 4 became a fixture in the Sandusky household, sleeping overnight and accompanying Sandusky to charity functions and Penn State football games,” it said. Usually the persuasion Sandusky employed was accompanied by gifts and opportunities to attend sporting and charity events. He gave Victim #4 dozens of gifts, some purchased and some obtained from various sporting goods vendors such as Nike and Airwalk."
The case has drawn intense media attention, with about two dozen television trucks parked outside the courthouse.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
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Sandusky seems to have a 'happy go lucky' demeanor. A person accused of a crime of this nature, even if they're innocent, would understand the gravity of the crime and behave accordingly.
From his interview with Costas...to today....He's still in La-La-Land.
agree
Aside from what he's accused of, THAT GOOFY GRIN, is the second most offensive thing about him. He does seem to saunter around as if this is just a mild drizzle of rain when, in reality, it's a hurricaine, and he doesn't seem to see it for that. He should at least hang his head in shame on the way in and out of the courthouse.
I agree PB. He seems to be taking this like a child would...oblivious to the reality.
heard ...he was ready to hit the shower...after the jury selection...
I hope this dirtbag gets 30 or so years in prison. He'll be very popular in there if you know what I mean.
agree
John Walter the CEO of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society has gotten away with this sort of criminal activity for years. see leukemia scandal dot com
Mike McCreary should be fired for his lies.
OF COURSE he's smiling! A Penn State STUDENT working in the athletic department on the jury?????? Are they kidding me? Did the kid get to ask for an autograph first? Oh, and I bet he SWORE he could be impartial. If there is a holdout at the end, you can bet that this is the one. How does a co-worker get to be on a freaking jury???
This butt-bandit is going to walk. They are NOT going to convict one of their own. This judge needs to recuse himself. The fix is in here, folks.
So you're saying everyone who works in the Athletic Dept. at Penn State condones rape. If anything this guy should want him to go down more than the others for the embarrassment Sandusky has caused the community.
Sandusky abruptly retired in 1999. His ties to Penn State weren't as strong as they were to the Second Mile charity he founded.
One would assume that anyone with ties to Penn State would like to see that it's name is cleared. The only way to do that is to see that Justice prevails.
That means he's guilty as sin.
I cannot believe the jury they have seated for this trial. Way too many ties to Penn State. If this is the best they could do, then this trial needed to be moved and moved quickly. Some people can't see past their worship of athletic figures - PLEASE someone do something - we don't want this scumbag to go free.
A trial by a jury of your peers. A right of every American charged with a crime in our jurisprudence system. Problem is, where do you find twelve (12) stalking, perverted, pedophiles? Case closed. Innocent!
Kentucky?
I'm sure the Boy Scouts' upper management could hook you up with a lot more than 12.
I hope they fry this creep. The trial shouldnt last more that a week, open and shut..
I really would like to know why that filthy POS is smiling in that picture above. The trouble with sending someone like him to jail is that he will be a willing participant to all the rapes that happen in prison. Although, if he's only interested in "little boys" he will have to be put in segregation because "regular" criminals will most likely kill him. I hope they do. I don't need to spend any of my tax dollars on keeping his sick arse alive in prison for the rest of his life. POS!
Debbie --- An involuntary nervous smile or grin is a very common reaction when a person is under pressure. Besides, it is possible---and common---for photographers to edit their snaps or film. Publishing only the ones which they have chosen for the effect they want, even though the "target shot" may be only one of a great many which show something else. The picture of Sandusky smiling is not proof of either innocents or guilt.
I'm a left-wing, socialist, Liberal (with a large "L") and an advocate for rehabilitation of convicted criminals. But, I'd throw the switch and fry pedophiles. They are completely unredeamable.
unredeemable*
I feel the same way. Crimes against kids deserve a painful pusnihment.
EEE-XXX-CCC-UUU-SSS-EEE ME for a typo! When you become perfect AKap, let me know.
A typo is accidental, like "Hlelo, I'm Alex." You simply misspelled a word. Anyway, I never said I was perfect- I like to be corrected when I'm wrong.
Well, you're wrong, AKap. You're not only wrong, you're an a$$.
Don't be so defensive. What am I wrong about? The difference between a typo and a misspelling?
But, I'd only fry him after he spent some "quality time" with Bubba alone in their cell.
and he's still free. incredible
Actually, he's been under house arrest. He can sit on his back porch and watch the children on the playground at the nearby elementary school.
As a Central Pennsylvanian this has been all we've heard about since it broke. Trust me, no PSU people support this nutcase simply because he was a coach. The writing is all over the bathroom wall that he's guilty. Just a matter of time before his goofyass is in prison for the rest of his pathetic life.
You say they (Penn State People)don't support this guy. Well, JoePa supported him with his SILENCE!!
WHY IS THIS SCUM BAG FREE ????????????????????????? If this was some one other then white his as* would be in jail !! Stop now ! I am white and I don't think this scum bag should be walking around with his dirty little smirk ! WOW another example of a failed system SUCKS!!!!!!!
Sad we have to hear about theses types of stories and watch the guy get away.
But I'm hoping not.
Sandusky is a monster. But, I was disgusted with the way the University made a scapegoat out of Paterno. Damn it, Paterno reported it all to the head of security at Penn State, basically the chief of police of a city with a population of 60,000. The University failed the kids, not Paterno. I hope the adminstrators who are charged with the cover up get theirs along with Sandusky.
In this whole case it seems that the only person who did anything at all was McCreary. He at least told Paterno. I guess that was about as effective as telling Sandusky's wife.
I guess you assume Sandusky and Paterno were friends? Demonstrably not true. Paterno very much disliked Sandusky. We can certainly have a debate about whether Paterno should have done more. He admitted that he wished he had. But to insinuate that Paterno was consciously covering up for his pedophile buddy is just stupid.
Also, his name is McQueary, not McCreary. You must really be following this case closely.
Let's put Dexter Morgan on the jury. Here's another idea: former Philadelphia crime boss, Nicky Scarfo, is doing life. Let's send him after Sandusky!
It makes me shudder to see him smiling and walking around seemingly 'with purpose'. What the heck? Has he had a psych eval and where are those results? Any idea what the defense is going to do to mount a defense ( please, there was no pun intended, I'm too tired to figure out a different turn of phrase there. ) I also don't see his wife or family in the photos, any thoughts on that from those in the know?
As the mom, no as a HUMAN, this whole thing makes me shake my head and look to the sky and utter 'really?' this is what we do to our children and each other. Wow, we are an amazing breed.
Really, can Sandusky just not stop smiling? Really? That child molester grin has got to go. His picture should no longer be printed. So they have 12 jurors from the community surrounding Penn State. Interesting.
@Tito, I, too messed up McQueary's name on another post, thanks for the correction. Don't even get me started on him...
Nice Shoes PBgeorgia99 !
Thanks, Richard Stone! They were actually stolen at an event! >:( Can't find a replacement.
I know a little about Penn St and their arrogant, nose in the air fans. I heard for years how Penn St does everything the right way as if nobody else does. How Paterno controls the program and makes sure everything is above board and if you step out of line you are gone. I don't know how anyone believes that kind of crap these days but PSU fans eat it up. They criticise and ridicule other programs all the while believing that PSU is so righteous. It's easy to say I should have done more but the fact is he didn't. You say he didn't like Sandusky but Sandusky made him look pretty good when he was coaching. By the way TITO if my spelling of McCreary pizzes you off then I'll keep spelling it that way. Typical PSU guy smarter than everyone else. I got news for you PENN ST ain"t Harvard.
PLEASE SIGN AND SHARE THIS PETITION TO HAVE CASEY ANTHONY TRIED IN FEDERAL COURT. CREATED 4/14/12.
Double jeopardy is subject the dual sovereignty doctrine. It states that a person can be tried for the same crime twice if he or she is being tried by more than one distinct, sovereign government. A person can be tried by the federal government and by a state government for the same crime. Both entities are distinctly sovereign units that have their own sets of laws and their power derived from different sets of people.
The petition addresses the DOJ policy that guides them in deciding whether or not to bring federal charges against someone after a person has already been tried by a state.
go to change.org and search for BREUER
That was the first thing that went across my mind. He didnt look like a guy going into court with all those charges against him - he went in looking like he didnt have a care in the world. Oh well - maybe his lawyer has assured him he will get off on all 50 some odd charges. I know I wouldnt look that happy if I was him.
It should be noted that Sandusky left Penn States coaching staff in 1997 or 1998-the former attorney general who is now the governor sat on this for years and then became outraged-sort of like the inspector in Casablanca when he found out there was gambling go on at Ricks! Please note the year is now 2012. Just Sayin' !
Wonder how many homo's the homo judge got on the jury
Well, Mike, I'm a homo....and you know what? I have no attraction to little boys; probably the same way (presumably) you have no attraction to little girls.
The way this idiot is smiling you'd think they got the same 12 jurors that found Casey Anthony innocent....