The Sandusky Trial

The legal team for Jerry "The Sandman" Sandusky started their defense of the former Penn State coach today by calling character witnesses to the stand.  Defense attorney Joe Amendola in his opening remarks stated that he will show how the stories of accusers have changed over time, that they were prodded and coached by investigators and prosecutors and that some are motivated to lie by the hopes of a civil lawsuit jackpot, and to paint Sandusky's interactions with children as misunderstood and part of a lifelong effort to help, not victimize them.  Defense attorney Joe Amendola pressed the accusers for dates and locations, details of their involvement with the kids' charity Sandusky founded, arrests or drug problems, contacts they had with Sandusky in the years since the alleged abuse ended and the terms of representation deals with civil lawyers. At least six said they told incorrect or incomplete stories in early contacts with police and three testified that some of the details only came back to them in recent years.

Dick Anderson

 Former Penn State assistant coach Dick Anderson, who worked with Sandusky for several years, testified that he and other members of the football staff were present when Sandusky brought young boys into the team’s showers.  He said he never witnessed anything inappropriate.  “If Jerry would bring someone in with The Second Mile, they had been working out, for whatever reason they came in, it was not uncommon ... with the other coaches in the shower as well,” Anderson said.  Anderson, who coached at Penn State from 1970 to 1983 and again from 1990 to 2011, adults and children often shower together at gyms. He noted, for example, that it’s not unusual for him to be in the showers with boys at the YMCA.  All of these character witnesses said "The Sandman" had a wonderful reputation with the community.

It appears that the defense is trying to put a reasonable doubt into the minds of the jury by bring forth the incorrect dates and times.  Hell, if I was getting sodomized by "The Sandman" I wouldn't remember times and dates.  I would be trying to forget the entire thing!  All of these kids were violated physically and mentally by this sexual predator who claims he was doing nothing wrong in the showers and in the basement of his home.  The defense team may have nothing more than this diversionary tactic to throw the way of the jury.  Day 2 of the defense comes tomorrow.