All 5 Centre County Judges Decline to Hear Child-Abuse Case Against Ex-Penn State Coach Sandusky
To avoid actual or perceived connections to Pennsylvania State University, its football team or the Second Mile charity founded by former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky, all five of Centre County’s judges have recused themselves from hearing the child sex-abuse case against Sandusky.
Two other jurists with no known connection to Penn State or the charity have been appointed to handle Sandusky’s case, reports the Harrisburg Patriot-News.
McKean County Senior Judge John M. Cleland will oversee it. But until he can take the bench in Centre County, another replacement jurist, President Judge Kathy A. Morrow of Perry County, will hear motions in the case.
Cleland has been on the bench since 1984, Perry since 2004, reports the Centre Daily Times.
Meanwhile, Sandusky’s lawyer has said in an ABC News interview that he is concerned the former coach could see his $100,000 unsecured bail increased considerably if more charges are brought against him.
The lawyer, Joe Amendola, described one of the prime accusers of Sandusky as “pampered” by prosecutors, and said the boy had exaggerated his claims of sexual abuse by Sandusky in order to get attention and distance himself from a tough mentor who was pushing the youth to accomplish more, the ABC article says.
“Because people when they’re brought into the criminal justice system and they’re labeled as victims, they’re pampered, they’re encouraged, they’re treated specially. And particularly when you’re dealing with maybe someone who hasn’t had a great, the greatest of lives. Then a lot of times they start feeling more important,” Amendola said.
Sandusky reportedly met all eight of his alleged victims through Second Mile.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled on Dec. 13.
Also in the news today is the appointment, by a special Penn State internal investigative committee, of former FBI director Louis J. Freeh to oversee a “no stone unturned” internal probe of what happened, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer and USA Today.
Additional and related coverage:
ABAJournal.com: “Merck CEO to Investigate Penn State Football Scandal; Ex-Coach Paterno Hires King & Spalding Leader”
ABAJournal.com: “Former Phila. DA to Represent Charity Founded by Ex-Penn State Asst. Coach Charged with Child Abuse”
ABAJournal.com: “Defense Lawyers Doubt Wisdom of Ex-Penn State Coach Sandusky’s Comments re Child Sex-Abuse Case”
Patriot-News: “Exclusive: Jerry Sandusky case sees two new child abuse investigations where alleged victims are under 18”
