E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSSThe first witness against Jerry Sandusky testified that he was a teenager when Sandusky began abusing him. NBC's John Yang reports from Bellefonte, Pa.
Updated at 7 p.m. ET: A 28-year-old man testified Monday that former Penn State University assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky treated him "like his girlfriend" for more than two years, showering him with gifts he was afraid he would lose if he told anyone about Sandusky's increasingly sexual behavior.
Sandusky, 68, denies all 52 counts alleging that he abused 10 boys over 15 years. Two grand jury reports accused him of having used his connection to one of the nation's premier college football programs to "groom" the boys —whom he met through his Second Mile charity for troubled children — for sexual relationships.
Earlier, on the opening day of his trial, Sandusky's attorney appeared to surprise prosecutors by listing Sandusky as a possible witness in his own defense.
The trial before a jury of seven women and five men heard opened in Centre County Court in Bellefonte, Pa., culminating months of breathless coverage that led to the firing of head coach Joe Paterno, who won more games than any other major college football coach in history, many of them with Sandusky at his side.
Paterno died in January, a few weeks after the Penn State Board of Trustees dismissed him for not having done enough to stop Sandusky's alleged abuse.
The first of eight alleged victims expected to testify — identified as alleged victim No. 4 — said he endured more than 40 "very uncomfortable" incidents involving Sandusky during the two years, when he was 12 and 13 years old.
(Although the men are being identified by name in court, NBC News and msnbc.com do not identify the victims of alleged sexual assaults.)
NBC: Former Penn State president could face charges in Sandusky case
Full coverage of the Jerry Sandusky trial
The behavior progressed from mutual showers in the Penn State coaches' locker room to hugging and caressing to rolling around together on the floor.
Eventually, the shower incidents progressed to Sandusky's placing the man's hand on his genitalia, said the man, who went on to describe more graphic behavior, including attempted sexual penetration.
In rides in his car, Sandusky would put the man's hand on his knee, "basically like I was his girlfriend," which he said "freaked me out."
"I could not stand it, and it happened almost every time I was in the car" with Sandusky, he said.
The man described similar behavior that he said he witnessed with other children.
At a summer camp at the beach, Sandusky would throw children up in the air in the water, "just like you do with a little kid, but he was grabbing them more about the buttocks area," the man said. "It was like brushing over your genitals."
Among the gifts he said Sandusky gave him were hockey sticks, golf clubs, a snowboard, Penn State football jerseys and a cherished spot on the sideline during football games. One time, he said, Sandusky gave him money to buy marijuana, which he said he smoked in front of Sandusky in his car.
The witness said those were things he desperately wanted but was afraid he would lose if he blew the whistle.
"This was something good happening. I never had a father figure, and I'm liking everything I'm getting," he said, adding that he also feared being teased by classmates if they learned that he was "being molested by Jerry."
The witness said under cross-examination that he regretted not having come forward earlier. Had he done so, he said, he might not feel responsible "for these other victims being molested."
Sandusky attorney targets accusers
Amendola aggressively questioned the young man about his finances, part of a strategy he introduced in his opening statement, when he painted the eight alleged victims as troubled youths out for a big payday in court.
"You saw those eight photos," Amendola said, referring to photographs of the eight accusers as young boys that the prosecution had presented in its opening statement.
"Cute kids — why would they lie?" Amendola asked. "Folks, I don't know, when it comes to money. ...The evidence is going to show that six of these eight young men who are going to testify have sued. The evidence will show these young men have a financial interest in this."
Amendola noted that as long ago as 1998, local prosecutors had declined to bring charges against Sandusky.
"Jerry Sandusky has always said that he is innocent," Amendola said. "The testimony is going to be awful, but that doesn't make it true, and that's the bottom line."
Moreover, the eight alleged victims were already troubled as youths, he suggested, saying they knew Sandusky in the first place only because educators and government agencies had referred them to Second Mile because "they had issues."
Alleged victim No. 4 acknowledged that he was referred to Second Mile by a school guidance counselor at his school because "I got in trouble a lot" outside of class.
Judge refuses to dismiss Sandusky charges
But in his opening statement, Joseph McGettigan, the deputy state attorney general who is leading the prosecution, said the case was about "systematic behavior by a predator."
All of the witnesses are now adults, but McGettigan asked the jurors to "bring your insight (and) understanding of the way children experience things and react to things."
"They were boys. They didn't understand why this happened to them," he said.
McGettigan also indicated that prosecutors would call Michael McQueary to testify, answering one of the key pretrial riddles.
McQueary, a former Penn State assistant coach, told a grand jury that he witnessed Sandusky assaulting a boy in a shower in a locker room and that he told Paterno about the incident.
But McQueary's accounts of the incident have varied. For example, he testified that he was certain that the incident took place in March 2002 and that he immediately reported it to university officials. But the prosecution says it occurred in February 2001 — more than a year earlier — a discrepancy the defense is sure to highlight.
More content from msnbc.com and NBC News:
Leave a Comment:
Attorney has "financial stake" in case for keeping Perv Sandusky out of prison. I think ole Jerry might actually like it in there.
This should be a speedy trial
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.
Or go to change.org and search for BREUER
Sandusky is a sick puppy and that's all there is to it. He is a monster, I don't give a damn what anyone says. Bet you wouldn't leave your kids alone with him!!!
I doubt this scum will get what's coming to him, all his cronies will figure out a way to make sure he gets off scott free. What a disgusting piece of human offal, one can only hope he does get his due.
This fiasco will end with an acquittal on all counts. Because it is being tried in Penn State territory, prosecuted by Penn State admirers, juried by Penn State supporters and presided over by a Penn State Judge. Does that help explain the outcome?
Of course Joe is not represented correctly in this article. He was only dismissed as Head Coach, he was NOT FIRED from a position at Penn State. Look it up! He continued to be paid as an employee of Penn State. Lucky for him that he died. Of course the circumstances of his death have never been fully explained. Is it possible he was about to ‘spill the beans’ and the ring leader had him summarily excused? Naaah not at Penn State never !
Joe was as complicit in this despicable activity as the monster Sandusky. Except he didn't 'play around in the shower' with them he knew what was going on… ooooh yes he knew.
Move along folks the wheels of justice have been locked in this matter. Think about this: the issue was raised over ten years ago. The then prosecutor suddenly disappeared, never has been found. His computer was found 'accidentally' in a nearby river bank. Without the hard drive. And he was never treated to an all-out search.. he was 'reported' as 'missing'. But since his body was not found and the drive was missing it became another Ho Hum case for the Attorney General (isn't he now Governor) and the lesser lights in the law enforcement community.
Let's face it people, this is a case about how immoral, how unethical how destructive Penn State and its tentacles are in that area.
There will not be any justice derived from this trial. The sex manic Sandusky will be acquitted, he will then sue everyone involved in his "PERSECUTION" and get mega bucks awarded because of the terribly wronged accusations against him.
That's it folks another cover-up which may or may not be NAMBLA related. But what about Sandusky's wife? Did she not see something strange, something unusual when Jerry went to the basement room and spent hours with the guests? Of course she did. And then later in their boudoir he regaled her with the tales of his conquest.
Sick ? hell yes, but then he is a sick freak who deserves to be imprisoned with some very nasty inmates who are aware of his 'deeds'.
At this point it is hard to tell who is the biggest loser, Sandusky or his pathetic lawyers. I suppose that they are using every tactic that they have, because they know that their client is guilty and they want to make sure they get paid before he loses everything. They are the ones who stand to gain financially, that's the lawyer way.
His family isn't any better. They knew he was a molester for decades but they sure didn't want to lose the perks at the country club so keep pops little secret as long as possible then say these men just want money. And what did they want? I hope they have to hang their heads in shame everywhere they go and people never let them forget their disgusting silence for what their old man did. His neighbors already can't stand the sight of him. Penn state knew and did nothing, they deserve to have to pay for the coverups.
And I thought Sandusky was the slimy, despicable POS.....this cretin Amendola may just own that title. But why should I be surprised, he's a lawyer without a conscience. They deserve each other.
Amendola got his 16 year old girlfriend pregnant...when he was 49. Birds of a feather...
Duh...of course their is a monitary incentive to tell the woulrd how this old man was stickin it to you for his own amusement...why else would you come forward this long after it happened.
"there" and "world" might work better,. just sayin.
Since we're at it, a "?" would also help. Just sayin.
Ah yes....the grammar police, what would we do without this anality?
UGH!!!!! Let see just how broken this justice system really is. If this POS walks..... it's all over
This fiasco will end with an acquittal on all counts. Because it is being tried in Penn State territory, prosecuted by Penn State admirers, juried by Penn State supporters and presided over by a Penn State Judge. Does that help explain the outcome?
Of course Joe is not represented correctly in this article. He was only dismissed as Head Coach, he was NOT FIRED from a position at Penn State. Look it up! He continued to be paid as an employee of Penn State. Lucky for him that he died. Of course the circumstances of his death have never been fully explained. Is it possible he was about to ‘spill the beans’ and the ring leader had him summarily excused? Naaah not at Penn State never !
Joe was as complicit in this despicable activity as the monster Sandusky. Except he didn't 'play around in the shower' with them he knew what was going on… ooooh yes he knew.
Move along folks the wheels of justice have been locked in this matter. Think about this: the issue was raised over ten years ago. The then prosecutor suddenly disappeared, never has been found. His computer was found 'accidentally' in a nearby river bank. Without the hard drive. And he was never treated to an all-out search.. he was 'reported' as 'missing'. But since his body was not found and the drive was missing it became another Ho Hum case for the Attorney General (isn't he now Governor) and the lesser lights in the law enforcement community.
Let's face it people, this is a case about how immoral, how unethical how destructive Penn State and its tentacles are in that area.
There will not be any justice derived from this trial. The sex manic Sandusky will be acquitted, he will then sue everyone involved in his "PERSECUTION" and get mega bucks awarded because of the terribly wronged accusations against him.
That's it folks another cover-up which may or may not be NAMBLA related. But what about Sandusky's wife? Did she not see something strange, something unusual when Jerry went to the basement room and spent hours with the guests? Of course she did. And then later in their boudoir he regaled her with the tales of his conquest.
Sick ? hell yes, but then he is a sick freak who deserves to be imprisoned with some very nasty inmates who are aware of his 'deeds'.
IMO, they after they finish with Sandusky, they should charge HIS wife too. She knew what was going on..Just like feeding a vampire that is part of your family.
Stand to gain, is that how the scum attorney looks at it. That they did it for the money. Both of them need to rot in hell.
This sham of a defense isn't doing the pervert any good. It like admitting he did it and is looking for excuses why Sandusky shouldn't be held accountable for his actions.
Dang, it's like Sandusky's lawyer sat down last night and said "what are the most offensive and least credible things I could possibly say in my opening statement?"
"They made it all up in a big conspiracy to get money from poor Jerry Sandusky and the witnesses are, umm, wrong?" Seriously? That's what they're going with here?
I was only horsing around when i was sucking dick.
thats it in a nutshell, case closed liberal idiots
im a diehard psu fan, but cmon, lets hear from the "innocent until proven guilty" crowd
btw, was bin laden tried and convicted before we blew him to kingdom come?
This pile of crap and his equally offensive defense team will lie and say it was all a misunderstanding, yeah right, Penn state knew for years as did his nasty family what this perv was doing. He actually said he was showing a young man proper hygiene, really? There is no reason a grown man needs to be standing naked behind a naked child pressed up against a shower wall other than to molest him, interesting how the lawyer says what McQueary saw was not what he thought he saw. Lawyers act like everyone else lies or is mistaken but not their client, then when they are looking at a sure conviction their 100% innocent client becomes a guilty one ready to make a plea for a lesser sentence, they all should be held and fined for contempt if they do that or not be allowed to make a plea. If they say they are innocent then take it to the end with that and get what you get.
Why are we wasting time with this piece of garbage, string him up in the highest tree,,does he really think he's going to get off becaues all his victims have a conspiracy against him.
This fiasco will end with an acquittal on all counts. Because it is being tried in Penn State territory, prosecuted by Penn State admirers, juried by Penn State supporters and presided over by a Penn State Judge. Does that help explain the outcome?
Of course Joe is not represented correctly in this article. He was only dismissed as Head Coach, he was NOT FIRED from a position at Penn State. Look it up! He continued to be paid as an employee of Penn State. Lucky for him that he died. Of course the circumstances of his death have never been fully explained. Is it possible he was about to ‘spill the beans’ and the ring leader had him summarily excused? Naaah not at Penn State never !
Joe was as complicit in this despicable activity as the monster Sandusky. Except he didn't 'play around in the shower' with them he knew what was going on… ooooh yes he knew.
Move along folks the wheels of justice have been locked in this matter. Think about this: the issue was raised over ten years ago. The then prosecutor suddenly disappeared, never has been found. His computer was found 'accidentally' in a nearby river bank. Without the hard drive. And he was never treated to an all-out search.. he was 'reported' as 'missing'. But since his body was not found and the drive was missing it became another Ho Hum case for the Attorney General (isn't he now Governor) and the lesser lights in the law enforcement community.
Let's face it people, this is a case about how immoral, how unethical how destructive Penn State and its tentacles are in that area.
There will not be any justice derived from this trial. The sex manic Sandusky will be acquitted, he will then sue everyone involved in his "PERSECUTION" and get mega bucks awarded because of the terribly wronged accusations against him.
That's it folks another cover-up which may or may not be NAMBLA related. But what about Sandusky's wife? Did she not see something strange, something unusual when Jerry went to the basement room and spent hours with the guests? Of course she did. And then later in their boudoir he regaled her with the tales of his conquest.
Sick ? hell yes, but then he is a sick freak who deserves to be imprisoned with some very nasty inmates who are aware of his 'deeds'.
Amendola is kinda creepy too. Maybe he should be checked out. After all, don't pedophiles put the blame on the victim, by stating "they wanted it" and "they were all over ME" "they came on to ME"?
Sandusky is a pos & like another said so is his wife, she knew and STILL stayed with the monster, she is sick as he is put them together so he has to screw his wife and not his inmates that would be justice because if he is put in with the inmates that will be just what he would like sick sick sick makes me want to vomit
Sandusky accusers motivated by money, defense attorney says as trial opens <~~~ I wonder what the defense attorney is motivated by!
I'm not surprised they are going for the "blame the victim" defense. Pedophiles target such children for just that reason - they are troubled, have problems and either no family support or the families fall for the guy who looks like a smart caring adult who can help them cope with their troubled child. No different than priests and both use institutions which have wide community and social respect, school and church, to further their plans.
If he did molest these children they should get compensation from whatever he owns while he spends the rest of his life behind bars.
Disgusting legal strategy. Used to be used all the time on rape victims (and still is to some extent) until the law finally evolved to the point where the victim did not have to prove she was a cookie-baking virgin before she would be believed. The court better offer the same protections to the children who were alledgedly victimized. Just because Sandusky is innocent until proven guilty doesn't mean his accusers are guilty until proven innocent.
We need to learn the order of operations in thiscountry. Please pursue the criminal chargers before civil court. Folks will immediatley file a lawsuit for a $1 million bucks before ever pressing criminal charges.
I'm not saying this is the case with the Sandusky situation. Often people are so quick to file suit for money before every trying to get someone prosecuted for the criminal charges. It leaves the door open for defense attorneys to say it was all for money. Nothing criminal took place just a vendetta to get money.
So the lawyer's position is that these guys got together, years after events occured, without knowing each other, to report the same type of abuse--BECAUSE THEY KNEW THERE WOULD BE A PAYDAY? That has got to be the worst defense and most pathetic excuse I have ever heard.
This fiasco will end with an acquittal on all counts. Because it is being tried in Penn State territory, prosecuted by Penn State admirers, juried by Penn State supporters and presided over by a Penn State Judge. Does that help explain the outcome?
Of course Joe is not represented correctly in this article. He was only dismissed as Head Coach, he was NOT FIRED from a position at Penn State. Look it up! He continued to be paid as an employee of Penn State. Lucky for him that he died. Of course the circumstances of his death have never been fully explained. Is it possible he was about to ‘spill the beans’ and the ring leader had him summarily excused? Naaah not at Penn State never !
Joe was as complicit in this despicable activity as the monster Sandusky. Except he didn't 'play around in the shower' with them he knew what was going on… ooooh yes he knew.
Move along folks the wheels of justice have been locked in this matter. Think about this: the issue was raised over ten years ago. The then prosecutor suddenly disappeared, never has been found. His computer was found 'accidentally' in a nearby river bank. Without the hard drive. And he was never treated to an all-out search.. he was 'reported' as 'missing'. But since his body was not found and the drive was missing it became another Ho Hum case for the Attorney General (isn't he now Governor) and the lesser lights in the law enforcement community.
Let's face it people, this is a case about how immoral, how unethical how destructive Penn State and its tentacles are in that area.
There will not be any justice derived from this trial. The sex manic Sandusky will be acquitted, he will then sue everyone involved in his "PERSECUTION" and get mega bucks awarded because of the terribly wronged accusations against him.
That's it folks another cover-up which may or may not be NAMBLA related. But what about Sandusky's wife? Did she not see something strange, something unusual when Jerry went to the basement room and spent hours with the guests? Of course she did. And then later in their boudoir he regaled her with the tales of his conquest.
Sick ? hell yes, but then he is a sick freak who deserves to be imprisoned with some very nasty inmates who are aware of his 'deeds'.
http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/06/11/12169577-nbc-former-penn-state-president-could-face-charges-in-sandusky-case?lite
Updated at 4:02 p.m. ET: Pennsylvania prosecutors are considering criminal charges against former top Penn State University officials for allegedly concealing what they knew about the conduct of former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky, law enforcement told NBC News.
Josh - after you choke down that large dose of crow....perhaps additional comments regarding Happy valley will be in order?
This is nothing more and nothing less than a shakedown a la tea partier. Something like it happened to the catholic church and there is nothing that the legalese vultures won't do for money.
To me a victim, a real victim can't go back for seconds, thirds, year after year and then when, as with marriage, the magic goes away and the old model is traded in for a new model, is this the time the epiphany hit them? Rape only happens once, if it becomes the norm, then there is no way in hell than the "victim" can cry rape once the benefits end. I was approached, during my younger years, I was in my early teens by many a queer and I huff, and puff and blow so hard, but my virginity never left me. I never accepted any thing, I just ran like hell, or as with some cases I just said no, others I had to try to call the attention of others and I can tell you, w/o any doubt, that no Sandusky would have had any chance with me ever.
Actually, I learned that the same lawyer that brought millions to the "victims" of the Boston diocese, was also approached, according to him, by a priest and he said the magic word: No and nothing happened to him. Now, to be fair, maybe is why he is so bent in making the catholic chruch pay dearly, because the priest didn't try hard and now he feels un-wanted? That is a possibility. What is not a possibility here is that "justice" is at work. When the purported "victim" is part of the problem, there is no crime, period, no matter what the morality lynchers say or do. If a lwayer is involved, then greed, dollars are the goal, the end, no morality, no justice. If these two were the main reason, why 15 years later? Let's hear it for greed! Hip, hip, hooray!
You obviously do not know anything about what is a like to be a victim of child abuse.
You are the definition of "my enemy's enemy is my friend". You got issues dude. You sure you weren't abused as a child?
That's because it was physically impossible...with your head stuck up your ass.
Why is it that one track mind don't bring any thing to the table, but stupid comments lacking in honesty. So, according to the see no evil, hear no evil crowd dismiss the truth when it pertains to their issues, but with others they don't spare the pitch and forks. This is for ceo, I had my doubts that the Yeti, the abominable snow man existed, but if that is your picture, you convinced me. Yes Virginia, there is a Yeti. And for all you dummies, where did I say something that is not the truth? The 15 years the "victims" went for more more and more ad nauseaum? BTW, when people use one liners to try to explain the truth, they already lost the argument and they want, a la tea partier, to change the subject. That of course is your problem and won't work with me. Try the fixnews network.
Get some help professional pal...you are one sick puppy.
And this comes from the abominable snow man. You scare the hell out of me. Dumb and ugly to the nth degree, that is sickness til death do you part. BTW, what is with the one liners? One liners, a la tea partiers, is for dummies and you proved it once again. Insults coming from you, a slogan peddler, is like a badge of honor that I will carry forever. Thank you, you made my day! If those one liners are your best attack? My goodness, have you no shame? Can you think? Obvioulsy no. Why, oh all stupid, don't you contradict what I said? Oops, you can't handle the truth. But that again, is your problem. Now, let me ask you punk? Who is the sicko now!
Yeah right, these guys are jumping all over themselves to accuse Sandusky, because one thing at-risk males love more than anything else is to be viewed by their peers as someone else's b*&1ch.
Either Sandusky is making an obscene amount of money to be so wealthy that male, football-playing volunteers are lining up around the block to tell the world that he molested them, or he is in fact a molester.
His co-workers reported him, are they after money as well? Whistle-blowers always get the best jobs the 2nd time around.
He is not yet convicted in court, but I think many will find his defense strategy reprehensible.
The worst thing the defense attorney could do is put Jerry on the stand......he will incriminate himself in a hot second....just like that creepy interview with Bob Costas right after the story broke. Go ahead....do it! I double dog dare ya....dumba**.
This fiasco will end with an acquittal on all counts. Because it is being tried in Penn State territory, prosecuted by Penn State admirers, juried by Penn State supporters and presided over by a Penn State Judge. Does that help explain the outcome?
Of course Joe is not represented correctly in this article. He was only dismissed as Head Coach, he was NOT FIRED from a position at Penn State. Look it up! He continued to be paid as an employee of Penn State. Lucky for him that he died. Of course the circumstances of his death have never been fully explained. Is it possible he was about to ‘spill the beans’ and the ring leader had him summarily excused? Naaah not at Penn State never !
Joe was as complicit in this despicable activity as the monster Sandusky. Except he didn't 'play around in the shower' with them he knew what was going on… ooooh yes he knew.
Move along folks the wheels of justice have been locked in this matter. Think about this: the issue was raised over ten years ago. The then prosecutor suddenly disappeared, never has been found. His computer was found 'accidentally' in a nearby river bank. Without the hard drive. And he was never treated to an all-out search.. he was 'reported' as 'missing'. But since his body was not found and the drive was missing it became another Ho Hum case for the Attorney General (isn't he now Governor) and the lesser lights in the law enforcement community.
Let's face it people, this is a case about how immoral, how unethical how destructive Penn State and its tentacles are in that area.
There will not be any justice derived from this trial. The sex manic Sandusky will be acquitted, he will then sue everyone involved in his "PERSECUTION" and get mega bucks awarded because of the terribly wronged accusations against him.
That's it folks another cover-up which may or may not be NAMBLA related. But what about Sandusky's wife? Did she not see something strange, something unusual when Jerry went to the basement room and spent hours with the guests? Of course she did. And then later in their boudoir he regaled her with the tales of his conquest.
Sick ? hell yes, but then he is a sick freak who deserves to be imprisoned with some very nasty inmates who are aware of his 'deeds'.