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BELLEFONTE, Pa. -- Jerry Sandusky waived his preliminary hearing this morning on child sexual assault charges, meaning there will be no testimony today and the case will proceed to Common Pleas court.
The hearing began at 8:30 a.m., and Sandusky waived immediately. He said in a press conference afterward that he intends to fight the charges, but today wasn't the day to do so. There has been no talk of a plea agreement, his lawyer said.
"We fully intend to put together the best possible defense and stay the course for four full quarters," said Sandusky, a former Penn State assistant football coach.
Sandusky will be arraigned on Jan. 11. He is out on $250,000 bail, wearing an ankle monitor and is forbidden from contact with children. He has been charged with 50 counts related to the alleged sexual abuse of 10 boys.
Ken Suggs, an attorney for Victim 6, called Sandusky a coward for waiving. He said he believes Sandusky waited until the last minute to waive to see if accusers were going to show up and was afraid that they would be believed.
Victim One was ready to testify, his lawyer said, but wasn't at the courthouse because he'd expected the waiver. Attorney Slade McLaughlin said, "I have a hard time believing this decision was made at 8:30" this morning. McLaughlin said, "My gut feeling is we'll have a plea deal."
At a preliminary hearing, a judge decides if prosecutors have enough evidence to send the case to trial. Defense lawyers sometimes waive preliminary hearings to avoid more negative publicity. Sandusky's lawyer, Joe Amendola, said yesterday that he was eager to hear from the witnesses: "We plan to proceed with Jerry?s hearing, and Jerry is looking forward to the opportunity to face his accusers.''
Amendola has left the courthouse to take Sandusky home, but is expected to return to the courthouse and address the media.
The senior deputy attorney general said prosecutors had 11 witnesses on standby and were surprised by the waiver. "I would imagine (Mike McQueary) would have testified," he said. McQueary testified before a grand jury that he saw Sandusky rape a child in a Penn State bathroom, although McQueary's story has differed.
Sandusky founded a children's charity, The Second Mile, which is how he met his victims, prosecutors alleged.
This morning in Bellefonte, more than 30 television trucks lined the town's streets, which have been shut down in the blocks surrounding the courthouse. Some 1,400 members of the public entered the lottery for 100 seats in the courtroom.
Accusers were expected to testify, identified only by number.
Bucknut24;2060903; said:if this was posted already (wouldn't be surprised if it was sorry)
"We fully intend to put together the best possible defense and stay the course for four full quarters," said Sandusky,
Joe Amendola, said yesterday that he was eager to hear from the witnesses: "We plan to proceed with Jerry?s hearing, and Jerry is looking forward to the opportunity to face his accusers.''
localyokel;2063347; said:SOB is determined to remind everyone he was with the football team, like anyone could forget.
Their dream jury pool:
What are they going to do for an uncontaminated jury pool, anyway? 'Cause if ever a pool had been peed in, this one has.
Yeah, well, that would be a first, anyway.
Joe Amendola: Master of the nuanced phrase.
which is a gay sex line.Joe Amendola, the attorney for Jerry Sandusky who thus far has been lawyerin' like a man who got his J.D. from the bottom of a cereal box, did some more lawyerin' in front of the cameras this morning. The choicest moment: At one point, Amendola discussed the possibility that Mike McQueary witnessed a rape, told Joe Paterno and two university administrators, and no one did anything except tell Sandusky to stay out of the locker room with kids. To anyone who believes that version of events, Amendola said, "I suggest you dial 1-800-REALITY." We did. Here's what we got:
Hey guys, welcome to the hottest place for triple-X action. Get ready for bulging, bursting pleasure with horny gay, bi, and bi-curious studs. Just 99 cents per minute.Seriously.
sandgk;2063501; said:from the "You've gotta be [censored]ing kiddin' me!" files:
Deadspin - Amendola recommends reporters dial 1-800-REALITY -
which is a gay sex line.
Is he really more a performance artist than an attorney-at-law?