Jerry Sandusky, the 68-year-old former Penn State assistant football coach, was sentenced to 30 to 60 years in prison today for sexually abusing 10 boys.
According to reports, Sandusky, wearing a red jumpsuit, gave an 18-minute “rambling” statement in court proclaiming his innocence. Legal analyst Wes Oliver on NBC 10 said the statement was "emotionally unstable" and “bizarre.”
In the closed proceedings at the Centre County Courthouse, Judge John M. Cleland first heard arguments from prosecutors, then the defense, then victims – with Sandusky getting the last word before the sentence was given.
Cleland gave him 30 to 60 years, saying to Sandusky, "for the rest of your life," according to NBC10.
After the sentencing, Sandusky attorney, Joe Amendola, told press he will appeal the case because he believes the court violated his client's right to due process, and that the defense was rushed to trial.
"If we had been given more time, we would have been able to prove Jerry Sandusky's innocence," he said.
Prosecuter Joe McGettigan said Sandusky was "delusional" and his statement in court was "ludicrous." McGettigan also said Sandusky's attorneys had more than enough time to mount a defense, and the victims are "grateful justice was done."
Sandusky was the defensive coordinator for many years at Penn State and was, at one time, the presumed heir-apparent to legendary coach Joe Paterno. Instead, Sandusky was arrested, and Paterno fired. Paterno died in January.
Sandusky was convicted on 45 counts of sexual abuse to 10 boys over a 15-year period. One of the prosecution’s star witnesses, Mike McQueary, a former graduate assistant, testified that he saw Sandusky molesting a boy in a Penn State locker room shower.
The scandal toppled Paterno's reputation, and will have repercussions at the university for years. The NCAA fined the university $60 million and stripped the school of all its victories back to 1998.
A source told CBS News that Sandusky is in discussion for a book deal. Sandusky's attorney said the notion of a book deal is just a rumor, and there is no book. Pennsylvania law prevents convicted criminals from profiting from the details of a crime.
