BELLEFONTE, Pa. —
The judge overseeing Jerry Sandusky’s child sex abuse case says the former Penn State assistant coach can see most of his grandchildren while he awaits trial.
Judge John Clelan also ruled Monday morning that Sandusky can use a jury chosen from the State College area to hear his case.
Multiple rulings, which include other topics such as bail and out-of-county jury requests, are posted on the Centre County Court website at www.co.centre.pa.us/media/.
In November, Sandusky was charged with dozens of counts of child sex abuse involving eight boys. A second arrest and brief incarceration in December came after additional charges involving two additional accusers.
The judge made no rulings at Friday’s 70-minute pretrial hearing held in Centre County Court in Bellefonte. After that hearing, the 68-year-old Sandusky told reporters that he maintains his innocence.
“All of a sudden these people turn on me when they’ve been in my home with their kids, when they’ve attended birthday parties, when they’ve been on that deck, when their kids have been playing in my yard, and when their kids have been sled riding, when they’ve asked to sled ride at our home. It’s difficult for me to understand to be honest,” said Sandusky.
Under Monday’s ruling, Sandusky can see his grandchildren under their parents’ supervision. However, he won’t be able to see three of his grandchildren who lie in State College because their parents are going through a divorce.
Prosecutors also sought to have Sandusky confined to his home after neighbors complained he was sitting on his back porch watching kids at a nearby elementary school. That too was denied. In addition, Sandusky will be allowed to leave his home to meet with his attorneys and to prepare for his upcoming trial.
Sandusky’s trial is scheduled to begin May 14 and the judge decided it would be held in Bellefonte with a jury form Centre County. The attorney general’s office sought to have jurors chose from outside the area because they said media attention involving Penn State will make it difficult to have a fair trial. Cleland denied that motion and acknowledged there will be challenges, but said he wants to make an effort to seek a fair and impartial jury in Centre County.
In the meantime, former Penn State Athletic Director Tim Curley is has filed a motion asking that his perjury charge be dismissed. Prosecutors said after being told of an alleged assault by Sandusky, he did not alert the proper authorities. Curley’s attorneys said without testimony of the late Joe Paterno, prosecutors don’t have enough evidence.
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