Jerry Sandusky Sentenced to 30 to 60 Years in Prison for Child Abuse

The sentence hearing for Jerry Sandusky took place in Pennsylvania on Tuesday, with the former Penn State assistant football coach receiving between 30 and 60 years in prison for child sexual abuse, according to Bloomberg News. 

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BREAKING: Jerry Sandusky gets 30-60 years in prison for Penn State sex-abuse case

— Bloomberg News (@BloombergNews) October 9, 2012"

Andrea McCarren of WUSA-TV in Washington D.C. reported that the sentence will be "for at least 30 years, but not more than 60."

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#Sandusky sentence: not less than 30 years, not more than 60 years, “for the rest of your life” @wusa9

— Andrea McCarren (@AndreaMcCarren) October 9, 2012"

Sara Ganim of the Patriot News quoted the judge saying that he chose the sentencing he did, specifically the wording, to hit Sandusky hard. 

Prior to the sentencing, five of the victims spoke in the courthouse (via The Patriot-News) and talked about the pain Sandusky inflicted upon them. 

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“You had the chance to plead guilty and spare us,” Victim 4 said. “Instead you decided to try to attack us. We both know exactly what happened.

“I want you to know that I don’t forgive you and I don’t know that I will ever forgive you.

I grew up in a bad situation and you made things worse.

My only regret is that I didn’t come forward sooner.

"I had no clue that it was happening to others. While I don’t forgive you, I ask others who were abused to forgive me for not coming forward sooner.”

"

The mother of one of the victims also spoke (via the same Patriot-News report) about her pain after seeing what has happened to her son. 

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“I thought it was my fault.”

Her son has twice tried to take his own life.

“To watch my sweet little boy turn into this person is too much to bear,” the statement said. “Not only did you molest him, you caused him a lifetime of suffering and sorrow. How cruel are you?

“Whatever comes to you I hope it is 10-fold of what you have done to my son and others.”

"

Sandusky was found guilty on 45 of 48 counts that he was charged with back in June. He has spent the last three-plus months in prison awaiting his sentencing. 

On Monday, prior to his hearing, Sandusky released an audio statement (via CNN.com) on Penn State radio where he continued to proclaim his innocence. 

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They could take away my life, they could make me out as a monster, they could treat me as a monster, but they can't take away my heart. In my heart, I know I did not do these alleged disgusting acts.

"

Joe Amendola, Sandusky's lawyer, said on Monday (via Boston.com) that his client was going to speak to the judge prior to the sentencing to, as the report says, assert his innocence one more time. 

Amendola also said in that same report today was important because "it starts the appellate process."

The NCAA hit Penn State's football program with severe penalties after everything came out with Sandusky. The Freeh Report, which found that prominent figures at the university tried to cover up the situation to protect Sandusky and the program, was the most damning piece of evidence against Penn State. 

After the report came out, the program was fined $60 million and a four-year postseason bowl ban.