After being arrested twice since Nov. 5 on charges of sexually abusing young boys, former Penn State defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky will reportedly face his alleged accusers at the preliminary hearing on Tuesday.
Sandusky, the center of the Penn State scandal which has tarnished the school’s image, could face as many as 10 accusers on Tuesday, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Sandusky is charged with over 50 counts of child sex abuse. His accusers include 10 boys that he met through his charity for troubled youths, Second Mile.
One instance in particular has stood out in the grand jury report. According to the report, in 2002, Mike McQueary, who was a graduate assistant before becoming the receivers coach, saw Sandusky sexually abusing a 10-year-old boy in one of Penn State’s locker room showers and told then-head coach Joe Paterno.
Paterno then allegedly reported it to administration, which essentially did nothing.
The grand jury report has led to the firing of Paterno and president Graham Spanier. Vice president Gary Schultz resigned and McQueary and athletic director Tim Curley were placed on administrative leave with pay.
Said Sandusky‘s lawyer, Joe Amendola, via the LA Times:
You can imagine. He’s going to have to sit in a courtroom with a couple hundred people—I understand it’s going to be filled to capacity, including members of his family, and friends—who are going to listen to these young men say horrific things occurred between them and Jerry.
Sandusky‘s decision to interview with NBC’s Bob Costas earlier this month was questioned, as some believed it did more harm than good to his case.
In the phone interview, Sandusky admitted that he showered with some boys, but described it as “horseplay.”
Sandusky‘s wife, Dottie, has contended from the start that he is innocent.
Said Dottie in a statement last week:
I am so sad anyone would make such a terrible accusation which is absolutely untrue. We don’t know why these young men have made these false accusations, but we want everyone to know they are untrue.
What you can expect in Tuesday’s hearing is a lot of angry people and plenty of media attention.
It’s also unlikely that McQueary will testify or Sandusky will take the stand in the preliminary hearing.
It’s been a circus so far, and this circus certainly isn’t over.
