The bail money posted by Sandusky’s wife after he was arrested was returned to her Thursday, according to court documents.
The $50,000 cash bail Dottie Sandusky put up for her husband on Dec. 8, after he was arrested on additional child sex abuse charges, was given back to her as per an order from senior Judge John Cleland, according to court documents.
Sandusky’s attorney Joe Amendola filed a motion earlier in the day to have the bail money returned, according to court documents.
The Sandusky’s home at 130 Grandview Rd. was also released from the court Thursday, as Dottie Sandusky used $200,000 worth of the property’s value as collateral for part of her husband’s bail, according to court documents.
Amendola argued that because Sandusky’s bail was revoked after his trial ended on June 22, Dottie Sandusky was entitled to the bail money she posted and to have her property used as part of the bail released, according to court documents.
Sandusky was convicted on June 22 on 45 counts of sexually abusing boys he met through his charity, The Second Mile, which he started in 1977.
Sandusky is scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 9 at Centre County Courthouse in Bellefonte following a hearing to determine if he is to be considered a sexually violent predator.
Amendola wrote in an email that there is no longer any need for bail because Sandusky is incarcerated.
Matt McClenahen, of McClenahen Law Firm in State College, said that bail is a measure taken by the courts to make sure people who are released show up on their court dates, and that it is not a punitive measure.
McClenahen said Dottie Sandusky is entitled to the bail money she put up.
“Normally, the courts return the bail to the person who posted it after all court proceedings are done without the need of a motion,” McClenahen said. “This case is still going to drag out with appeals, so they probably just want to get the money back now instead of later.”
McClenahen said that because Sandusky is incarcerated and is unable to miss a court date, the bail is no longer necessary.
Sandusky is currently incarcerated in the Centre County Correctional Facility.
