Jerry Sandusky Waives Preliminary Hearing in Child Sex Abuse Case
The bizarre and disturbing sex-abuse case involving former Penn State assistant coach Jerry Sandusky continues to get stranger as Sandusky has waived a preliminary hearing on Tuesday and pleaded not guilty, bringing the case straight to a trial.
The hearing is for the prosecution to prove that they have probable cause to bring this case to trial, but the evidence against Sandusky is so overwhelming that the move isn’t surprising.
Senior Deputy Attorney General E. Marc Constanzo believes waiving a preliminary hearing will be beneficial for the alleged victims, according to the Detroit Free Press.
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“This development we believe provides maximum protection to most importantly the victims in this case,” Constanzo said. “It avoids them having to testify a second time. They will of course testify at a trial in the case.”
According to CBS News legal senior analyst, Andrew Cohen, the move by Sandusky is strategic.
“This makes sense for Sandusky because at the preliminary hearing he was not going to be allowed to call his own witnesses,” he told CBS News Radio. "It was going to be broadcast essentially via Twitter and social media to the world, and that was going to impact the potential jury pool, so I'm sure he realized that if you're going to make this fight you make it once at trial, where you can call your own witnesses."
Sandusky will now face trial for more than 40 counts related to his alleged molestation of 10 boys from over a 15-year period of time.
Magisterial Senior District Judge, Robert Scott will set a trial date, while Sandusky waits on house arrest.
Sandusky, who is a legendary defensive coordinator at Penn State, used football terminology saying “stay the course and fight for four quarters”.
Sandusky has already held two television interviews in his defense.
In his interview with Bob Costas on NBC, Sandusky hesitated when he was asked if he is sexually attracted to young boys. In a later interviewed, he explained his hesitation as saying it would be a lie to say he isn’t attracted to young boys saying he is attracted to all young people.
Former Penn State assistant coach, Mick McQueary is a key witness in this case, whose testimony could make or break the prosecution’s case.
It was initially reported that McQueary physically witnessed Sandusky having sex with a young boy in a shower. Allegedly, he told Penn State coach, Joe Paterno who in turn told the university president and athletic director. All three have been fired in wake of the sex abuse scandal.
However, McQueary’s testimony is being called into question.
According to reports, a friend of McQueary’s said that McQueary told him that he never actually saw Sandusky having sex with a boy. He heard noises and saw a boy peek out from the shower curtain, before someone pulled him back in.
McQueary later saw Sandusky leaving the shower in a towel, according to the source.
Conflicting reports from McQueary could threaten the trial as two more accusers arose last week. This prompted Sandusky to be arrested a second time and put under house arrest after posting $250,000 bond.
The charges against Sandusky include nine counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, which is punishable by 20 years in prison on each count, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
Sandusky maintains his innocence and said he will not enter a plea bargain.
