The Who2 Blog
Jerry Sandusky Sentenced to 30 Years in Jail And Then Some
Penn State football coach Jerry Sandusky was sentenced to 30-60 years in prison, a life sentence for the 68 year-old convicted of sexually abusing children.
Nearly a year after he was arrested, Jerry Sandusky was sentenced in Bellefont, Pennsylvania on 9 October 2012. In June he was convicted on 45 counts involving 10 boys over the course of 15 years. Eight of the victims, now grown, testified against Sandusky.
Sandusky is said to have used his charitable organization for children, The Second Mile, as a way to groom young victims for sexual abuse. As both Boston.com and Philly.com indelicately phrase it, Sanduskly "showered them with gifts" then abused them. I'm repeating the phrase here to show how up I am on the New Journalism.
Sandusky maintains his innocence and plans to appeal. He said, "In my heart, I know I did not do these alleged disgusting acts."
His defense attorney, Joe Amendola, said, "I think that it's important to consider that there are two sides to Mr. Sandusky. We have a gentleman, who by many accounts, has helped many people." So, two sides: a gentleman and a rapist. Let's us do consider that.
2 comments
Hard to believe he only got 30+ years. Yes, it's a "life sentence," I know. But still. Weird.
His statement that "In my heart, I know I did not do these alleged disgusting acts" is a real classic of avoidance, isn't it? It's not really something you know or don't know in your heart. It's something you did or didn't do. Also, Freudian slip on the placement of "alleged" as a modifier before "disgusting"?
It reminds me years ago when Martina Hingis retired after the cocaine allegations -- calling the charges "monstrous" but not denying them. She said nearly the same thing: "I believe I am 100% innocent."
Yes, I couldn't help noticing the modifier "alleged" to the adjective "disgusting." You don't gotta be Freud to see something in THAT one. Likewise, the comment from the defense attorney -- so typical -- "but OTHER THAN THAT ICKY STUFF, he's a swell guy!"
I read a few remarks from Sandusky defenders -- yes, there are some. I don't think they're malicious, but I do think they're ignorant. The defense boils down to "why didn't these guys come forward sooner? They're looking for a paycheck!" mixed with "If someone tried that with me, I'd never let 'em!"
I'm not sure what kind of dunce thinks you can automatically put yourself in the position of a child victim of sex abuse. Easy enough to say, "you shoulda just done THIS!" Sure, sure. As if it's not complicated.
But this other notion, that the victims are seeking some kind of fame and fortune? That's nuts. Do they really think that these people are lying so they can be branded for life as "that guy who was raped as a boy by Jerry Sandusky"? For what? At most, a book deal and an interview with Barbara Walters and maybe - MAYBE - a one-time payoff of a few thousand dollars? Honestly?
That makes me wonder about what the Sandusky defenders think of as a "good scheme" to get rich. If they think it's a peach to be involved in a year-long trial and admit to the public that you were sexually victimized by an old man, what does that say about them?