Jerry Sandusky sentenced to 30 to 60 years in prison

GlobalPost

Former Penn State assistant coach, Jerry Sandusky, arrived at court this morning to be sentenced on 45 counts of child sexual abuse. He was sentenced to 30 to 60 years on the 45 seperate counts. 

Looking noticeably thinner and dressed in a red jumpsuit, he carried a manila envelope likely containing his declaration of innocence he will read to the court during his hearing today, ABC News reported.

Also in court was Sandusky's wife, Dottie, and daughter, Kara, who smiled and waved at people gathered at the courthouse.

At the hearing today, Sandusky and his victims will make submissions to the court about his future in prison.

It follows Sandusky's interview with a radio station which aired last night, in which he denied any involvement in the crimes, and said his conviction was part of a "well-orchestrated" conspiracy.

He believed his victims were lying for their own gain and that the police and the media joined in a witch hunt.

Sandusky, who molested 10 boys after meeting them through a charity for at-risk children, denounced his accusers and claimed to be a victim of a conspiracy, according to CBS.

"Over and over, I asked 'Why? Why didn’t we have a fair opportunity to prepare for trial? Why have so many people suffered as a result of false allegations?'" Sandusky told Penn State student radio station PSU ComRadio from a county jail cell in Bellefonte.

Rather than accept responsibility for his conviction, Sandusky — who never testified at his trial — blamed the media and whistle-blower Mike McQueary, the assistant football coach who originally reported that he saw Sandusky raping a boy in a Penn State locker room shower in 2001.

Sandusky's crimes committed over a period of 15 years ranged from fondling to oral and anal abuse.

More from GlobalPost: Jerry Sandusky was part of pedophile ring, victim claims

As he faced the prospect of spending (technically) as many as 440 years in prison — if he is given the maximum sentences and serves them one after the other — Sandusky said he was being wrongly sent to prison.

"What’s the purpose? Maybe it will help others — some vulnerable children who could be abused — might not be because of all the publicity," Sandusky said.

According to Reuters, Sandusky denied he committed the "alleged disgusting acts," claiming:

"In my heart, I know I did not do these alleged disgusting acts. My wife has been my only sex partner. That was after marriage."

He added:

"They can take away my life, they can make me out as a monster, they can treat me as a monster, but they can't take away my heart."

In response to Sandusky's taped message, delivered "in a flat voice devoid of emotion," according to Reuters, Tom Kline, an attorney for one of the victims, as saying:

"It's not unexpected, but it's sad and unfortunate that Mr. Sandusky can't come to terms with the avalanche of evidence and conviction by the jury."

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