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Subscribe to RSSThe prosecution in Jerry Sandusky's sexual abuse trial finished their case against the former Penn State assistant football coach Thursday with the ninth alleged victim, who said he never told anyone about the three years of abuse he allegedly suffered because he thought no one would believe him. NBC's Michael Isikoff reports.
Updated at 6:58 p.m. ET: The final prosecution witness in the child sexual abuse trial of former Penn State University assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky testified Thursday that Sandusky forcibly raped him on several occasions.
The testimony came on the fourth day of Sandusky's trial on 52 counts alleging that he sexually 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. Sandusky has pleaded not guilty.
The 18-year-old man, identified in the indictment as "Victim 9," testified that he cried out for help as Sandusky raped him in the basement of the Sandusky home, but no one came to his assistance. He said he believed that the basement was soundproofed and that Sandusky's wife, Dottie, couldn't hear his pleas.
It was the most graphic and dramatic testimony so far at the trial in Bellefonte, Pa. Afterward, Judge John Cleland announced that the prosecution had concluded its case and that the defense would begin Monday after a three-day break.
Wednesday: Alleged victim testifies Sandusky threatened him unless he kept quiet
Legal analysis: Sandusky lawyer flummoxed by witness' memory lapse
The man said he stayed overnight at Sandusky's house between 50 and 100 times. He said Sandusky began forcibly raping him beginning when he was "maybe 13."
The 18-year-old known as 'Victim 9' told the court about a pattern of sexual assaults over three years that he allegedly endured in the basement of Jerry Sandusky's home. NBC's Michael Isikoff reports from Bellefonte, Pa.
On some occasions, he said, the assaults were so forceful that he would bleed from his anus. He said he didn't seek medical attention; instead, "I just dealt with it."
"What was I going to do? I mean, he was a big guy," the man said. "He was bigger than me at the time, way bigger than me."
The man said he told no one about the abuse — even police when they began investigating — because he thought no one would believe him.
"He's an important guy — he's a football coach," he said. "Who would believe kids?"
On cross-examination, the man acknowledged that despite the "horrible" things Sandusky did to him, he continued to accept tickets to Penn State football games from the defendant as recently as last November. He said he did so "because I had a friend with me" who "had my back at the time."
The man's testimony was the most disturbing of that of all eight of the alleged victims who agreed to testify at Sandusky's trial.
Previous witnesses testified that Sandusky engaged in oral sex and groped their genitals, and another witness, former Penn State assistant coach Michael McQueary, testified that he saw Sandusky engaging in sex with a young boy in a Penn State shower. But none of the previous witnesses has described the sexual relation as having occurred under extreme force.
Defense attorney Joseph Amendola, as he has with most of the other alleged victims, closely questioned the man on precise details about what allegedly happened and when, part of a strategy to raise questions about whether the accusers — some of whom have sued the university or have said they plan to sue Sandusky — are making up their stories for financial gain.
Penn State accused of slowing investigation
Earlier Thursday, Anthony Sassano, an investigator with the state attorney general's office, testified that Penn State dragged its heels numerous times on cooperating with the investigation, requiring investigators to seek search warrants and to subpoena the names of university employees.
"Penn State, to be quite frank, was not very fast on getting us the information," he said in the latest of several accounts jurors have heard that suggested that university administrators and local prosecutors knew about Sandusky's alleged pedophilia for many years but chose not to take action.
Full coverage of the Jerry Sandusky trial
Ronald Schreffler, who as a Penn State police investigator began investigating Sandusky in the late 1990s, also testified that he believed Sandusky was allowed to get away with his alleged behavior for far too many years, saying Sandusky should have faced criminal charges as long as 14 years ago.
Schreffler, who now works for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, testified that when he and youth services officials recommended that Centre County District Attorney Ray Gricar bring criminal charges, Gricar declined. The decision by Gricar — who disappeared under mysterious circumstances in 2005 and has been declared dead — remains one of the central mysteries of the Sandusky investigation.
'Jer' needs a 'best friend'
Some of the most bizarre evidence of the entire trial also emerged Thursday, including a "short story" Sandusky wrote that described his relationship with a boy who apparently attended his camps, which was found in one of the boxes at Penn State.
In the story, which was read aloud in court, Sandusky refers to himself in the third person as "Jer" and to the boy by his first name. Although Sandusky's alleged victims are being identified by name in court, NBC News and msnbc.com do not identify alleged victims of sexual assaults and have replaced the young man's name with (X).
"I'm Jerry. (X) is a young man who came into Jer's life," the story reads.
Later, telling how "Jer" was distressed that the boy had broken off the relationship, the story continues:
"'Tell me another story, Jer,' has been replaced with 'I don't care.' This cloud has destroyed soccer and hockey, choked smiles and laughter. There is fear that has reached his inside and killed his feelings. ...
"Jer might not be worthy, but he needs a 'best friend.'"
The trial, which opened Monday in Centre County Court, follows months of intense coverage of the case that led to the firing of Penn State head coach Joe Paterno, a college football legend who won more games than any other major college coach in history. Sandusky, who was at his side for many of those victories, was for many years presumed to be Paterno's heir apparent.
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.
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Yes, why couldn't he just off himself. What a pig.
That sports, or any possible celeb. status path is so worshiped....just sad.
They are held up as gods. It is unbelievable what these people get away with.
Hush...don't let the gipper look bad...Sick. So sick.
I hope this creep rots in hell for all time.
Looks to me like Pen State is just like the Catholic Church. Is it a religious organisation?
We, as parents, have entrusted our children to those responsible for their education. Any & all violations of that trust must be dealt with swiftly & harshly. It is now against the law for us, as parents, to physically discipline our children at home, else we will be charged with child abuse resulting in removal of our children from home, fines & jail/emprisonment, etc. This educator has allegedly sexually abused & violated children for years. It is akin to what has been going within the Catholic Church (of which I am a member) for years! Somewhere, somehow, we must put a stop to this. The penalties for these offenses must be severe enough to discourage such actions. My heart & prayers go out to all the families on both both sides. As for Mrs. Sandusky: If she knew & did nothing, she should be charged as an accessory. Otherwise, she is as much a victim as the children her husband molested & raped.
Dear Mary,
I agree with your sentiments almost entirely. The only exception I take regards your statement, " The penalties....must be severe...to discourage such actions." I have no quarrel with severe penalties, however my experiences working in the criminal justice system have taught me that consequences & penalties are rarely, if ever, a true deterrent to most types of criminal activities - in particular sexual abuse & pedophilia. Believe me when I say that I am no apologist for these people, I myself have been victimized. As much as it pains me to say it, it is true that pedophilia is a mental illness. This should NEVER exonerate or excuse the behavior and indeed punishment should be severe. My point is simply that our expectations and views of the punitive response to crime should be grounded in fact.
Yes, Sandusky should be locked up forever - unfortunately, that will not cause the next abuser to pause for even an instant. There are some criminal behaviors that simply cannot be threatened away. Child abuse is among them. All we can do is lock them up and "tag & track" them for the rest of their lives. The death penalty is appealing and in some cases may be the appropriate response, but we cannot afford to delude ourselves in to thinking that these deviants will be scared off by the threat of consequences. We lock them up to protect ourselves and our children....but for the truly psychopathic criminals, punishment as a deterrent will simply never work.
Please provide information that says that pedophilia a a mental illness. It is a sexual preference. He is not sick by any legal definition--he knew what he was doing and he knew that it was wrong or he wouldn not have attempted to hide his activities. The mental illness may be that these people are not able to have satisfactory relationships with adult women and their desire for power and control results in the abuse of children who are less complicated and easy to manipulate. Still, it is a symptom not a mental illness. It is defenseless, in my opinion. The long prison sentences don't deter pedophiles because they are rarely caught before they have victimized approximately 50 children. It does, however, ensure that they will never get another opportunity to continue this behavior. It is taken way to lightly in the judicial system. It is a mental disorder. Different from a mental illness because they know that what they are doing is wrong,but rationalize it by looking at all the "good" they are doing for the children in exchange for the the love they are showing them. The act is sick. The actor is an @ssho!le.
Just bad, really, really bad all the way to the top of the administration and apparently some with the justice system too. Bobby Bowden is the wininest coach in my mind - Joe Pa was indictable long ago from the sound of this mess. When the titans fall, there's hell to pay. Hell has to be on earth at Happy Valley.... Time to scuttle the team.
I believe this kid was sexual abused and his testimony proves it to me. His mind was so horrifically overcome by what was happening to him physically and emotionally that he passed out, to block-out all the horror of what Sandusky was doing to him. I believe this, because this is what happened to me and it was my coping mechanism. Because it happened so many times to me it would wipe out my memory. I was 28 years old before I started to remember all that happen to me.
Oh Kim....I'm so sorry. Wishing you well.
Sandusky is obviously the most repulsive, cringe-inducing person on the planet. BUT...(and I know this won't be popular) his wife may have been afraid of him (he DID threaten one of his victim's family). She may have an alcohol or pill addiction and have been unconscious every evening. Maybe she thought she would never be believed if she said anything. Or maybe she was simply in denial that she was married to a pervert. I don't think she can be judged without further facts. I'm just sayin'....
Sandusky only pretended he didn't know what he was doing was wrong to excuse what he was doing.
Every human being is born with a conscience, but the more you do wrong things, the easier it gets. That's why you have to even monitor your thoughts, so they and you, whoever, do not get out of control. Sandusky was beyond any control and he appeared to know that. You mean to tell me no one ever asked what's he doing taking a kid out of town on a football trip and the kid is staying in the same room as Sandusky? This whole thing is not made up by anyone but Sandusky.
buzz...Not every human being is born with a conscience. Sad but true. Sociopaths do not have a conscience as we know it. Life is all about them...
It is unlikely that Sandusky was the only one checking out the little boys at Second Mile. Those perverts are hiding and perhaps they are powerful enough to make all the law enforcement people run for cover. Perhaps that is why nothing has been done to protect the victims and shine a light on the other discusting humans. while the media is focusing on this one alledged pervert the other roaches have scattered.
I'm weary of hearing this stuff....put this pig in jail for the rest of his life..and forget him.
You may be weary of hearing this "stuff", and when the trial is over, we won't hear about it any longer. Perhaps Sandusky will make headlines again when he dies. His victims, I'm sure, are also weary of hearing and thinking about this "stuff". Unfortunately, they will have to live with the abuse, rapes, and molestations and their consequences for the rest of their lives. For them, this trial may be the only chance they have of feeling that they aren't powerless against this rapist because finally someone is listening to them when in the past no one did. I hope no one ever forgets "Jer", because there are many many more just like him roaming around raping and ruining our kids lives, I hope no one ever forgets.
Whynotme6142048..... no suicide note, no body and the brains of his computer missing and he would not do anything about Sandusky. Yep, he just died and blew away into the wind. I highly doubt it, unless you , yourself know what did happen to him. Methinks thou doth protest too much.
I am working on the evidence found, not factual but highly suspicious and open to supposition. Prove me wrong, go ahead.
Jerry the pervert is going to find out the guys in prison don't want to be his friend.....
It's really sad that many at Penn State knew about Jerry the Pervert and chose to keep quiet. Those kids paid a terrible price to protect the "image" of Penn State.
I live in Bellefonte, Pa. - literally across the street from the Courthouse. I look out my window and my house is surrounded by media satellite trucks.
I worked in our Criminal Justice system as a prison counselor. I'm a Penn State grad. I'm a father.... and I'm a survivor of childhood sexual assault. I am also really pissed off.
When this story first broke, I knew that it was only the beginning. I knew that the power structure would be frantically trying to cover it's ass. I knew that this would grow into a huge, dismal, disheartening, event that would reveal a host of villains, and an eerie darkness that has long existed here - but hidden with terms like "Happy Valley" and "We are Penn State." To be fair, this darkness exists everywhere; we do not have a monopoly on misery, liars, and monsters.
Through out my life I have worked with inmates, with homeless and at risk youth, the addicted, the disenfranchised, the lost & forgotten, the maimed & crazy. All of these populations are - on some level - victims of a society that devalues, ignores, or actively denies truth. The truth requires work and is often ugly. Many go to great lengths to avoid the discomfort of truth. Many will not stand up for truth because they don't know what it is, or they don't want to "rock the boat," or seek safety by saying,"Its none of my business."
So we continue to provide the secret corners in which darkness grows. The 3 Monkeys (see no, hear no, speak no evil...) provide fertile grounds in which we plant denial, distortion, and excuses.
I've heard the secrets of victims, I've made reports to CYS & the "authorities," I've heard the rationalizations of predators, and I've witnessed the inadequate, bumbling responses of the system. I've seen the glad handing & the back slapping of the "Good Ole Boys."
The blame game & finger pointing continues....even leading up to Gov. Corbett (surprised??!!) The Paterno apologists yell and scream as their sacred football program is scrutinized & questioned. We are seeing the darkness everywhere.
In defiance of this darkness, I will hold the real victims in light and hope that the revelations from this tragedy, as horrid and difficult to read as they are, will shine light on the egregious and unfathomable magnitude of mistakes made by those in power. The unethical, immoral, and devious nature regarding the way this case was handled over the past 13+ years...simply boggles the mind. After my personal experiences as a survivor, a counselor, etc., I of all people, shouldn't be surprised at any of this; but I still cannot believe the ineptitude, the callousness, and the selfish interests of the people in positions of authority & power that allowed this monster to continue his crimes. All these bastards have an excuse....everyone has a finger pointing at some one else....its just as disgusting as Sandusky himself.
I realize that I'm painting this picture with a very broad brush; there were some extremely knowledgeable, capable and caring people involved in this case who tried there damnedest to make people see what was happening.....but their warnings went unheeded, were ignored or muzzled. There currently are some very honest and caring people working on this case, thank God.......but it seems to me, when I step back and examine the culture of "power" - (not just here....but everywhere), the corrupt, the lazy, the selfish seem to be the majority. Unfortunately, this mind set exists globally...not just Penn State.
It is truly sad that the people who actually know something and have a sense of obligation to truth, and to their fellow citizens..... are a rare commodity.
I have always said, " Those that seek out positions of power are the least qualified to handle it." Maybe I have become too jaded. Sometimes its really hard to have faith in humanity. At this point in history, when I read the news and as I look out my bedroom window and see the "Sandusky Circus"...... I have little hope for the survival of our species.
I weep for my daughter. The world she will inherit is in rapid decline and the architects of this chaos appear to care less. They wave and smile at us as they wrap themselves in flags. They sell us fantasies. Blatant propaganda is accepted as truth, or simply not challenged...because people are too tired, too scared, too marginalized to fight. The liars continue to press their boots upon our necks....the Sandusky's continue to be hidden....the righteous muzzled.....the truth lost in a sea of madness.
Well, my medication seems to be kicking in, there's a great TV show on about nonsense & drivel, and I feel a strong desire to play solitaire.....soooo - have a nice day! ;)
Well stated. People will stand by and watch someone destroy another human being because they are too worried about how they might get hurt or lose something if they interfere. Several times in my life I have stopped and rescued people while there was a big crowd standing around watching and running their mouths about how "somebody should do something". Then invariably I'd have people tell me what a fool I was for risking my neck. I'm not bragging, I just can't understand how anybody can know this stuff is going on and not try to stop it. They are as guilty as the perp.
One in four girls have been sexually assaulted. One in six boys have been sexual assaulted. Child molesters, pedophiles are everywhere; your neighborhood, your church, your schools. No community, no area is without pedophiles. This is something that is not new; what is new is that more and more people are talking about it, are more aware.
I am 55 years old. I live in Utah, the Mormon capital of the world. The first time I was abused I was 5 years old. From 5 until I was 16, I was abused by countless people; neighbors, young and old, a teacher, gang raped, date rape and I was even raped in the chapel of a church. The one thing all these men and boys had in common was that they were all Mormons.
You are not alone. You have an entire community of people that understands what abuse does. I always say this: “There is good in bad and bad in good, you just have to see it. God never gives you any good, without some bad and God never gives you any bad, without some good. You just have to see it.”
I do not believe I would be who I am, if I had not been abused. It made me strong, fearless and extremely compassionate and empathic. It made me fight for the underdogs and gave me a voice to speak loudly about abuse. I can not tell you how many people have started a conversations with me that started with: “I have never told anyone this before…….” All because I told my story to so many people.
Timothy - Wow. What a story. Well said and well written. Sad and true.
Timothy - very well stated...your comments should be published in the local newspaper. Excellent posting.
"It was a difficult time for Jer because he had lost his dad. Jer and his dad shared so much and did many things together". I hope that doesn't mean he and his father did that stuff together.
Who knows if his dad did that to him, he was either born that way or someone did it to him.
I so hope he takes the stand! How can he explain away such boundary crossing actions even if he won't admit to the abuse? How would he characterize the experience that Jer and X both seemed to enjoy? Fear of what affected X's interactions with his best friend? I am disgusted by his smug seemingly less than true statements. Did the kid who said he screamed for help when Dottie was home, testify? What will she say on the stand?
People like that are out of touch with reality. They make up their own "reality" to suit their own purposes as they go.
I'm sure this freak of nature didn't begin raping and molesting young boys 15 years ago. Child rapists/molesters don't wake up one day and decide that's what their sexual preference is. No one, except he and his victims will know how long this has been going on and how many victims there really are.
OMG - OMG - OMG - each one worse than the one before! Holy moly!
As far as i'm concerned the entire PENNis State officials are just as guilty as sick @!$%# Sandusky. It's a shame the hallowed beloved, spineless, duplicitous JOE PATERNO is dead, disgusting Joe is just as guilty for being the coward he was by looking the other way for decades while 50+ boys were raped. Good going saint Joe Pa, I'm pretty sure neither he nor Sandusky has/had a soul.
The only hope Penn State has in defending itself in the massive civil suits is that the independent Freeh Report lays out EVERYTHING--the worse the better, that the Penn State Board did make sure the investigation was independent, and from then if not before sought to conceal nothing.
Only then can Penn State try to take on the mantra it is a responsible institution, did not mean any harm, behaved aggressively and responsibly as soon as matters were brought to its attention even if there were lapses by some along the way, fired the President and Paterno, etc. In doing so, it can try to appeal to the sympathies of jurors who in the back of their mind hold Penn State in high regard.
The Penn State strategy may be modest--not to sway jurors to a not liable right away in the civil suits because of the raw, revolting and gross and repeated failure of its agent to supervise especially as it related to minors, and especially if the President had been informed, or others sought "humane" treatment for Sandusdy.
No: the goal more likely is that the jurors not prejudge, and to dispose jurors to be willing to judge the facts fairly and reasonably--and if so, to consider whether Penn State acted responsibly.
At issue is hundreds of millions of dollars of punitive damages, the reputation of the institution, and its ability to attract contributions, funds, and footballs. The test for punitive damages is to whether outrageous conduct occurred, to deter it, and irrespective of any actual compensatory damages. If the jury is horrified, that's bad news; if the jury is merely disturbed and merely finds Penn State liable for negligence (or no liability), they get off light.
Picture this: if liability, many insurance policies do not cover an award of punitive damages--if so, the university would pay 100 cents on the dollar. The millions of dollars devoted to the Freeh Report may be the best investment the University ever made--if no punitive damages are awarded.
Decided to chime in. Dottie Sandusky had to have known. Every single one of these boys talked about the basement. If no boys stayed down there, as she claimed, why was there even a bed? She said they were never FED downstairs. She probably fed them as a reward. Make them feel loved, make them feel full. Give them gifts as payment for being attacked and violated by a sick man.
Lots of people knew about him, but to force the issue with police meant the university would be tainted by the scandal. "no one will believe the kids, they are troubled and have no life....it's all good." I do fault McQueary, but also see his point of view. He was no child, but he was a 'junior' in the department. "Who will take my word for it? I have to go the JoePa, he has more influence, it will be taken care of." I'm sure he has regrets.
As for these victims being in it for the money.....seriously? You are going to talk about secrets you have kept hidden, about things you were forced to do and were done to you....vile things that are hard to stomach......for money???!!!! This has to be so devastating. There is no amount of money to make up for the shame they must feel, even though they did nothing wrong. They just wanted someone to look up to, and look what he did to them.
Sandusky the "Homosexual Pedaphile" and his B!tch, enabler wife shuold BOTH rot in jail for the rest of their rotten lives!
When this sick f#ck goes to jail, I pray he's the catcher and Bubba is the pitcher....and I hope Bubba has a BIG bat.
What a sick, sick person. What a trail of harm he left in his wake, in service of this most foul of mental (not religious) disorders.
Your picture looks like Sandusky on a 12 yr. old boy.
How dare you. The photo is of leading Republican thinker Michelle Bachman, enjoying a really big weiner.
What could be more wholesome? How very dare you.
Mike VL, the picture negates any comment you post, however pertinent or apt they may be. It is in especially poor taste with the topic of discussion being the rape and sodomy of young boys by this animalistic freak of nature.
@ What - get your mind out of the gutter!
The photo is a celebration of our upcoming Independence Day holiday. Do not besmirch the good Mrs. Bachman's name by insinuating otherwise!
How very dare you.
The pro gay illegal occupier of our white house wants Sandusky the pedophile/homosexual to be head of Boy Scouts, and Barney Frank will try to get this passed and will join in the fun with tent experiences
winston...that post is pure drivel and lacks any evidence to support your allegations. You go back to your basement, take your meds, and wash your hair in the toilet.
this is all going to go down like clock work but i do have a problem with this prosecution, these boys and the country deserve better, they have complained over the years and got nowhere because nobody would believe them, today the prosecuting lawyer said step where missed, wrong wrong wrong, open your ears and listen, people have been talking for a long time about sexual harassment on children why wasnt something done in this case until it exploded last year, the university should be shut down and the whole football program stipped of its record, this is as bad as FAMU and there hazing problem. nothing but scum including j, peterno, he knew about this for a long time and did nothing,