options BELLEFONTE, Pa. - Jerry Sandusky was sentenced to 30 to 60 years in prison today for molesting 10 young boys he encountered through his charity for disadvantaged youth.
Sandusky, 68, received his sentence before Common Pleas Court Judge John M. Cleland about 80 minutes after arriving in court at 9 a.m. in shackles and escorted by sheriff's officers.
Sandusky also must pay prosecution costs and $1,700 into state victims compensation fund.
At first, the former assistant Penn State University football coach stood stone faced as Cleland read out a litany of individual punishments for each of the counts on which he had been convicted.
"I'm not going to sentence you to centuries behind bars, although the law would allow it," Cleland said. "Talking to a 68-year old man about dozens and dozens of years in prison serves no practical purpose."
The sentence was preceded by the testimony of three victims. Prosecutors read the statements of two other victims.
Following the sentence, Sandusky choked up, and used a football analogy.
"We're in the fourth quarter," Sandusky said. "In the fourth quarter you find out who will stand by you. For those still standing up for me, we will continue to fight."
Prosecutor Joseph McGettigan told the court that, "The defendant was, and is, the most insidious and depraved of criminals. He treated his victims like sexual property and discarded them when he wanted."
However, Sandusky's defense lawyer, Joe Amendola said his client needs understanding.
"I think it's important to consider that there are two sides to Mr. Sandusky," Amendola said. "We have a gentleman, who by many accounts, has helped many people."
Sandusky's wife, Dottie, who attended the sentencing, had no comment.
Outside the courtroom, Amendola said he believed the case was rushed to trial, and that Sandusky was already found guilty in the minds of many, even though he steadfastedly maintained his innocence.
"What happens to Jerry Sandusky can happen to one of us," Amendola said, lamenting what he said was a lack of due process. "Jerry still maintains his innocence."
Jurors found otherwise. Sandusky was convicted by a Centre County jury in June of 45 counts of child sex abuse after a two-week trial.
During those proceedings, prosecutors presented evidence linking Sandusky, now 68, to the molestation of 10 adolescent boys, all of whom he met through The Second Mile charity he founded for troubled and underprivileged youth.
Eight of the boys - now grown men - testified that the former coach entered their lives as a mentor or father figure. They said he often took them to Penn State football games, introduced them to players and showered them with gifts.
But in every case, gestures of affection - such as a hand on the knee or an arm around the shoulder - quickly escalated to more serious encounters including oral sex, masturbation and sodomy, they said.
Sandusky has maintained his innocence since his arrest in November and alleged his accusers conspired against him in hopes of bilking the university for money through subsequent law suits.
He and his attorneys have said they plan to file an appeal sometime in the next two weeks, arguing that they were not given enough time between Sandusky's arrest in November and the June trial to prepare an adequate defense.
The former coach will remain in Centre County Jail for at least 10 days. He is then expected to be transferred to Camp Hill state prison outside Harrisburg. Camp Hill is a clearinghouse for males entering the prison system where they undergo mental and physical health tests.
Once Sandusky is assigned a security risk, he will be assigned a permanent prison to serve out his sentence. The state does not maintain dedicated units for sex offenders but offers extensive treatment programs for those convicted of sex crimes against children.
Penn State President Rodney Erickson said in a written statement that he hopes the sentencing will begin a process of recovery for the school.
"Our thoughts today, as they have been for the last year, go out to the victims of Jerry Sandusky's abuse," Erickson said. "While today's sentence cannot erase what has happened, hopefully it will provide comfort to those affected by these horrible events and help them continue down the road to recovery."
Contact staff writer Jeremy Roebuck at 267-564-5218, jroebuck@phillynews.com, or @jeremyrroebuck on Twitter.
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