As former Penn State defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky faces child sex-abuse charges on Friday, he addressed the media for the first time publicly.
Sandusky, who allegedly sexually abused numerous children throughout his time at Penn State, was taken under advisement by a judge on Friday, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
Judge John Cleland set a tentative trial date of May 14 for Sandusky, ordering him on house arrest, while prosecutors argued that his home was not a safe place for children.
Addressing the concerns, Sandusky said that “our home has been open to people for 27 years, all kinds of people.” He went on to say families had visited him for years, “and now all of a sudden they turn on me.”
“It’s difficult for me to understand,” Sandusky said.
The Penn State scandal, which allegedly went on for 15 years, has been lamented throughout the nation as one of the most horrific stories in sports, if not the most horrific. In 2002, receivers coach Mike McQueary allegedly saw Sandusky raping a 10-year-old boy in one of the school’s locker rooms.
Sandusky, now 68 years old, is facing 52 criminal counts for alleged sexual misconduct involving boys over a span of 15 years.
He’s done interviews with the media twice since being arrested in November, with one telephone interview with NBC’s Bob Costas that garnered national attention.
Sandusky’s arrest led to the dismissal of former head coach Joe Paterno and university president Graham Spanier, while McQueary is no longer the receivers coach, athletic director Tim Curley is currently on paid administrative leave and Gary Schultz resigned as senior vice president.
