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:
I understand everyone deserves to have an attorney represent him or her to the best of their ability. When I see a lawyer representing someone with this kind of reputation casting aspersions on men, who as teenagers were allegedly molested by Coach Sandusky, I get chills.
I cannot believe this creep walking onto court smiling and acting like "nothing has happened". This guy disgusts me!
He has no shame...he truly is the definition of evil.
That letter Sandusky or should I say "Sandickey" wrote to victim #4 says it all. I read some interesting facts about pedophiles.Pedophiles believe there is nothing wrong with having a sexual encounter with young boys. They believe they are in love with these boys the same way to grown homosexual men love each other and that these boys are in love with them as well. They even have their own support group which I believe is called "Men who love little boys". They are sick and perverted and the contents of that letter tell me that old Jerry is definitely one of them. He thinks what he did was perfectly normal and that he's done nothing wrong.I hope the jury finds him guilty. Nothing would give me greater pleasure than to see the look on Sandusky's face when that happens.
Why would anyone lie about playing Butt Poker with their coach just to get some quick cash? It seems like a rather humiliating way to make money if you ask me. I'm not buying it.
Really? What was HIS motivation? At the end of the day, this bastard is a child molester. His VICTIMS should be paid for their PAIN and Suffering at the hands of this monster -- and everyone else involved in covering it up...
Is it just me, or do all of the administrators, including the guy with the pencil mustache have a creepy twinkle in their eyes?
I wonder if he did all the stuff he's accused of.
What if he was found to do only half, would that change anything? What kind of question is that?
To qll the people talking about OJ....OJ covered up for his Son, Jason, who has intermittant rage disorder, used his double bladed Chef Knives from his job, didn't have an alibi and the murder weapon was found in a storage locker he owned. There was too much blood for OJ to have comitted the murders, he went to the scene after getting a call from Jason. Jason was mad a Nicole for standing him up that night. Jason had attacked his boss a month before with a knife, was taking depakote for anger and seizures and he had tried to kill several girlfriends. He was addicted to alcohol and mixed with Depekote is a very bad mix. Jason was abused by OJ since a young age and jason blamed himself for the drowning of his 23 month old sister, Arren years ago because he was supposed to be watching her. Read the book by private investigator William Dear who investigated for 17 years"OJ is Innocent and I can Prove it" all the written evidence and physical evidence is in there...OJ was always covering for Jason and felt guilty because he didn't get Jason help earlier in life and he blamed himself. OJ did get rid of the bloody clothes, but the LAPD did try to frame OJ after they realized they contaminated the crime scene. I always thought it was Jason, but finally this guy was able to prove it (over 500 pages of evidence) He convinced law enforcement all over the country at speeches, he convinced DR. Henry Lee and if you read it you'd be convinced too. Everyone should read it.
Great post. This trial was such a joke there is no rational explanation for the outcome other than judicial incompetence. Not that it matters, but "mad at Nicole" is a pretty thin motive when its just for standing him up. However, there is enough here to make me want to read this book. Thanks.
Wow! Debbie, I've been convinced OJ was covering for his son since he stepped out of that white Bronco and his son, who looked like him, was standing there.
Terrible strategy. As a lawyer I can tell you that calling the victim of childhood sexual abuse a "gold digger" is about as foolish as blaming the first responders for 911. Also indicates to me there is no other choice. If this is the best the defense team has to offer, Sandusky has no real defense to these charges.
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.
www.change.org/petitions/lanny-a-breuer-assistant-attorney-general-criminal-division-try-casey-anthony-in-federal-court-for-the-murder-of-her-daughter
Or go to change.org and search for BREUER
Why? Do you have evidence you've been withholding from the Florida authorities? Otherwise, it would be as productive as flatulence, but not nearly as satisfying.
So this degenerate starts a charity for troubled boys that lack male role models in their lives. He preys on them and molests them. When they somehow build the courage to testify about this horror they experienced the defense attacks them as being troubled boys "with issues" to begin with and thus their testimony is questionable.
I understand and respect cross examination and challenging the credibility of a witness. But to attack them for "having issues to begin with" when it's clear that this devil obviously set up the charity for kids with "issues" to create a pool of vulnerable boys who he could prey upon is truly despicable. That's about as evil as you get.
Kinda makes you wonder who really has the "issues", huh?
Someone interested in the actual facts of the situation would not have written that Paterno was dismissed for failing to report Sandusky's behavior. He did report the behavior. His dismissal - justified I believe - was for failing to go to the police when the people in his chain of command failed to do anything. Paterno was no beacon of hope in this instance, but it is not correct to suggest that he failed to take steps to alert his superiors to what Sandusky was doing. Paterno subsequently admitted that he "should have done more." The article infers that he didn't do anything.
JoPa had more vested interest in keeping Happy Valley 'happy'....and ignorant. His statement that he should have "done more" is so incriminating. Guess at the end of this life, he was able to put things into perspective - finally figured out whats important, and what's a game.
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'.
Looking at the past with 20/20 hindsight, it's easy to see why JoePa thought he "should have done more"...however, at the time of the incident, all he has was a hearsay report from an unreliable "eyewitness". To go to the police with what could be nothing but a rumor reported to him by a third party would have been foolish.
The person who "should have done more" was McQueary (the actual "eyewitness"...who has changed his story several times)...and the school administration, who should have investigated more thoroughly and pressed charges themselves through the campus police force.
So....what you're saying 'HadEnough' is that everyone dropped the ball, that no one investigated enough, no one took the time to do the right thing?
They should ALL be brought up on charges of some kind.
McQueary is actually a small fish...he DID report his experiences to JoPa, who in turn, did the least he could and still save face, sweep it all away, and pretend it didn't happen. University administrators knew something was going on, and were aware of complaints, had formulated a loose 'plan'....and chose to do nothing.
It is really incredible who and how many young people were being thrown under the bus, just so the world would appear all butterflies and unicorns...all to save the huge, powerful money machine that is Penn State.
Didn't get the name 'Happy Valley' for nothing....
Throw this Nastee predator in the dungeon already......somebody please shoot his ass and all the clowns that participated in this AWFUL ass @!$%#........I cannot beleive we ARE talking and Rationalizing some @!$%# like this.........Just what the Victims need.....Just to listen to HIM talk and RATIONALIZE his behavior is INSANE....Lock all those bastards up ........Poke them with a pitchfork EVERYDAY of their lives and make them say they Im sorry everyday of their lives........Make them @!$%#ING SUFFER ...YOU CRUEL >>>>CRUEL ass BASTARD
This case will not find too many understanding ears if the attorneys for sandusky start victimizing the victims again.
When Sandusky has been convicted, he should be executed in the worst imaginable way possible and shown on pay-per-view. Any profits should be given to the victims. Convicted child abusers should be forced to watch the execution.
So the defense lawyers are saying it is all about Money
So the defense lawyers say it is ALL about money. They must be working Pro Bono , huh?
I would think the victim is about the money, time in jail, and justice he'll receive for being sexually assaulted by a grown man in a shower?! The only witness should have been in it for the money but to do that you have to go to the police?! He didn't do that out of respect for the winning coach?! I heard slapping sounds like the ones I make when I screw my girl?! I see the Coach with a little boy in the shower tearing his behind up?! Then the witness goes to teh football coach, why?! To cover it up?! Now its out there and he tells us what he told Pen State!? The boy's world is ruined, not like some adult woman deciding to charge a man with rape because he never came back for seconds!? This was a child, not a Bit^&*(!?
All braindead pathetic right wing radical cracked teanuts should listen to your leaders.
Rick the Dick Santarium has brainwashed his followers, the evangelical Children of the Corn zombies and the gay rapist, pedophile catholic priests that lyin Willardo is a member of an evil cult and is the anti-christ. He also told them that lyin Willardo is the worst person in history to ever run for the presidency, can't be trusted and will destroy our country. Groper Nutquist, the boss of the right wing cracked teanuts and Nut Gingerhead, the criminal lobbyist, totally agreed with the last three assessments.
So most of the evangelical sheep will probably stay home on election day or some may even vote for Obama. They are totally scared of lyin Willardo, the Mexican Mormon Moron tax evader, bankrupter and Etch A Sketch champion.
The repukes best bet. CAIN/SANDUSKY in 2012. The true right wing family values candidates. Who cares what they did in the past, they are both against abortion, that is all that matters to these braindead zombies that vote for repukes. Sandusky can get the votes of gay, pedophile, rapist catholic priests, who are not yet in jail, as they look up to him for guidance-and there are thousands of them
HUH?????? WTF!!!!!!! Meds Meds please now!!!!
Sandusky needs to be raped anally with a broomstick until he dies of internal injuries.
A broom stick that has been roughened by sandpaper and knife marks, so there will be plenty of splinters.
1st
Things you don't want to hear at Penn ST. 1) Coach Sandusky says hit the showers. 2) Coach Jerry wants you to stay late and go over plays. 3) Coach get your co#k out of his a#s. 4) Jerry wants to tell you a story, nighty nite. 5) Hey coach why don't you were a jock strap. 6) Who is the old guy washing his balls. 7) Hey coach can you bring me a towel. 8) Mrs. Sandusky wants to watch. 9) Do you want to play hide the Keibasa. 10) Hey Joe, Jerry's a Mo.
Sandusky's lawyer states the accusers "are looking for a big pay day in court"....NO kidding, it's called justice and the "pay" will amount to a long jail sentence and financial compensation (won't be enough for what he did) to his victims.
I do hope that where ever they send Mr. Sandusky, some one there takes him under his wing and helps him out, you know showers him with gifts........
Hey Coach can I have the candy you promised me.
Two things I will not tolerate. Child abuse or rape. I just don't get it though. Why would you continue to let someone do this to you over and over?? Because you did not want to lose the perks. I mean is it really worth you being abused for material things? I think alleged victim #4 liked the attention more than he disliked the abuse. Otherwise he would have said something sooner. Just saying.
They were kids. They came from bad situations in the first place. A large adult male put fear into them. They did put a stop to it and was ashamed
Really does not matter of all the little reasons for delay. The kids were sexually abused by an adult. PERIOD. Some of the kids told their mothers and the mothers raised hell with officials. But once again there was a cover up.
I am glad that he is familiar with having sex in the shower with another male.....That experience will come in handy in about a year, the bad news is it will be Jerry Sandusky bending over to get the soap this time... Karma is a bitch & soon Jerry will be too...
Heck no......that old molestor will be sitting in the white collar suite. Justice would be served if they cut off his balls and weenie and thru him in the general prison unprotected.