Jerry Sandusky "has never considered and is not currently considering a plea in his case," his attorney, Joe Amendola, told reporters Thursday morning.

"Jerry and I have had no discussions about any sort of deal in his case," Amendola wrote in an e-mail message shortly after 11 a.m. "He has always maintained his innocence and continues to do so as we prepare for his preliminary hearing."

Sandusky, criminally accused of an extended pattern of child sexual abuse, has said repeatedly that he is innocent. A former Penn State football coach, Sandusky is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Dec. 13 in Bellefonte.

A grand-jury presentment lists eight alleged victims in the Sandusky case.

In an interview this week with the Harrisburg Patriot-News, Amendola said he may discuss a plea option if additional abuse allegations materialize.

That statement, noted Wednesday night on CNN, appears to have fueled speculation that Sandusky is mulling some kind of plea deal right now.

In his e-mail to reporters Thursday morning, Amendola attempted to quash that speculation.

The full text of the e-mail message is posted here. Earlier coverage is available via the page linked below.

• The rumors, which apparently are being reported by certain media outlets, that Jerry Sandusky is considering a plea are completely unfounded. A "what if" question was posed to me during a recent interview. I was asked "would your strategy change if the AG filed new charges involving 15 or 20 new alleged victims?". I responded, IF that happened, in addition to the planned course of defending against all the charges, I would have to discuss other possible alternatives with Jerry. I wouldn't be fulfilling my legal obligation to him if I didn't discuss those other alternatives with him, including the possibility of a plea. Jerry has never considered and is not currently considering a plea in his case. My answer to the "what if" question was analagous to saying, if weather forecasters were predicting a blizzard next week, which they are not, I would have to at least consider the possibility of postponing my scheduled trip to Phila. Of course, I'd have to reconsider the trip under those circumstances, just as I would have to discuss with Jerry all the possible alternatives in his case if the AG were to file additional charges alleging there were 15 or 20 new possible victims, which, of course, the AG hasn't done. Jerry and I have had no discussions about any sort of deal in his case. He has always maintained his innocence and continues to do so as we prepare for his preliminary hearing. Joe

Earlier coverage

• StateCollege.com's earlier and ongoing coverage of the Penn State-charges situation