WJACTV.COM :: Prosecutors, Defense Make Opening Statements in Sandusky Trial

BELLEFONTE -WJACTV.com posted the following news story on the Jerry Sandusky trial.

A jury of seven women and five men — many who have ties to Penn State University and were fans of Jerry Sandusky — will decide the fate of the former football coach. 

The 68-year-old Sandusky faces 52 criminal counts for alleged abuse of 10 boys over 15 years, allegations he denies. 

He arrived at the courthouse in Bellefonte, Centre County, at 8:08 a.m. with his wife Dottie by his side. He has been under house arrest for about seven months. 

A tent is up outside the back door of the courthouse to shield jurors and the alleged victims from the media spotlight. 

6 News learned there was a question about one of the jurors, but that person was not removed from the case. 

It took about a half hour for Judge John Cleland to address the jurors, then the prosecution began its opening statement. Sandusky hunched slightly his seat at the defense table as Cleland outlined the charges to the jurors. 

The people inside Courtroom One heard some graphic details of the alleged abuse. The lead prosecutor showed pictures of the alleged victims to jurors during opening statements. 

Sandusky sat quietly at the defense table and looked to his right at a video screen at times while Senior Deputy Attorney General Joseph McGettigan III outlined the allegations, which led to the ouster of longtime football coach Joe Paterno. McGettigan began his opening statements by showing the faces of the eight alleged victims, many of them smiling. He said six of the defendants had no fathers. 

For the full story, check out WJACTV.com.