On the eve of his sentencing, Jerry Sandusky released a personal statement from inside the Centre County Correctional Facility to Penn State’s ComRadio maintaining his innocence and fighting for a life outside of prison.
The statement, which aired on the 6 p.m. news radio show Monday night, featured Sandusky sharing his feelings on the way the trial and sex abuse case have gone thus far.
“A young man who was dramatic[,] a veteran accuser, and always sought attention, started everything,” Sandusky said in the statement. “He was joined by a well-orchestrated effort of the media, investigators, the system, Penn State, psychologists, civil attorneys and other accusers. They won.”
Multiple spokespeople from ComRadio declined to comment on the interview. ComRadio Student General Manager Mike Fliegelman said student representatives may be available to elaborate Tuesday.
When asked if he knew about the statement, Sandusky’s attorney Joe Amendolasaid he had no idea how the organization “WPSU” got the tape, but CNN reporter Jason Carroll later reported that Amendola facilitated the release of the statement between Sandusky and ComRadio.
Amendola later said that he was never in possession of the tape.
The full text and audio of the statement is available on ComRadio’s website.
Sandusky also cited the backgrounds of the people who he was convicted of abusing, adding that he cared for them and “then asked for the same.”
“Look at their confidants and their honesty,” he said in the statement. “Think about how easy it was for them to turn on me given the information, attention and potential perks.”
Because all of those who came forward are from The Second Mile, Sandusky also said that their backgrounds are an indication that they came from “issues.”
“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,” he said in the statement. “In my heart, I know I did not do these alleged disgusting acts.”
Sandusky’s sentencing will take place directly after a hearing to determine whether he is to be deemed a sexually violent predator at 9 a.m. today at the Centre County Courthouse in Bellefonte.
Sandusky was found guilty of 45 counts of sexual abuse in late June.
To email reporter: bah5310@psu.edu
