Jerry Sandusky , the former Penn State defensive coordinator, will return to Bellefonte today for the first time since October, when he was sentenced to spend 30 to 60 years in prison.
Sandusky was convicted in June on 45 counts of sexually abusing boys he met through the charity he started, The Second Mile.
The evidentiary hearing today is part of his post-sentencing process, according to court documents. The hearing will be held at 9:30 a.m. in Courtroom 1 at the Centre County Courthouse in Bellefonte.
Judge John Cleland, who presided over the criminal trial and proceedings, granted the hearing.
The motion for the hearing was originally filed by Sandusky’s attorneys Joseph Amendola and Norris Gelman, who claim that the court did not allow the defendant due process throughout the case, according to court documents. The motion states that the defendant was unable to “integrate the vast amount of material turned over by the prosecution to the defense when trial was imminent.”
Amendola has repeatedly said that he believes his client was not given enough time to sort through the materials in order to appropriately prepare for trial.
On Jan. 3, Cleland signed an order that will allow Sandusky to be transported to Bellefonte and attend his hearing, according to court documents.
Today, Sandusky will leave his cell, where he spends 23 hours per day in solitary confinement. He is permitted one hour a day outside of his cell for exercise.
Sandusky has continued to maintain his innocence through his attorneys.
Former Penn State President Graham Spanier, along with former Penn State Athletic Director Tim Curley and former Penn State Interim Senior Vice President for Finance and Business Gary Schultz have been charged in relation to Sandusky case, but future hearing and trial dates for all men are still unknown.
All three men are charged with perjury, child endangerment, obstruction of justice and failure to report suspected abuse, as well as conspiracy to commit the previously mentioned crimes in relation to the Sandusky case.
