Sandusky Waives Preliminary Hearing in Child Sex-Abuse Case
In a surprise move this morning that startled a Centre County, Pa., courtroom packed with media and other onlookers, former Pennsylvania State University assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky waived his right to a preliminary hearing in the child sex-abuse case he faces.
Nearly a dozen witnesses were expected to testify against the 67-year-old ex-coach, potentially adding to an avalanche of adverse publicity for Sandusky in the high-profile, 50-count case, reports CNN.
As he left the courtroom, Sandusky said, “We fully intend to put together the best defense we can. We’re going to stay the course, and fight for four quarters,” recounts the New York Times.
“And,” added his lawyer, Joe Amendola, “we couldn’t do that today,” reports CNN.
Amendola called the decision to waive the preliminary hearing a close call and said it was made last night, reports the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. One concern, he said, was that the defense doesn’t present its side of the case at a preliminary hearing, so media accounts would have presented the prosecution’s perspective.
Deputy Attorney General E. Marc Costanzo said he is pleased that the 10 alleged victims in the case will only have to testify once. A private lawyer for one of the young men said they had achieved the same result today, simply by appearing in court, that they had expected to achieve by testifying.
Sandusky’s next court appearance will be at an arraignment scheduled for January. Both sides say there has been no discussion of a plea bargain.
Additional coverage:
ABAJournal.com: “All 5 Centre County Judges Decline to Hear Child-Abuse Case Against Ex-Penn State Coach Sandusky”
ABAJournal.com: “Did Unorthodox Sandusky Defense Strategy Include Contact with Grand Jury Witnesses?”
ABAJournal.com: “Charged with 12 New Counts, Ex-Penn State Coach Sandusky Posts $250K Bail After Night Spent in Jail”
