As if anyone cares, Jerry Sandusky’s lawyer, Joe Amendola, said his convicted child molester client claims he is distraught over the NCAA penalties issued to Penn State’s football program for the school’s handling of his child sexual abuse scandal.
Oh, and Sandusky, who faces more than 165 years in prison, continues to maintain his innocence as he awaits sentencing, Amendola told the Associated Press.
Sandusky told him his lawyer that even if people believe he is guilty of the crimes for which he was convicted in June, it would be “ridiculous” to think Penn State administrators engaged in a cover-up.
The NCAA imposed a multi-year bowl ban on Penn State, invalidated 112 wins, fined the school $60 million and took away future scholarships. The university leadership said the alternative could have been a complete ban on playing games and has acquiesced to the penalties.
On Wednesday, the NCAA named George Mitchell independent Athletics Integrity Monitor at Penn State. The former senator issued the Mitchell report, which exposed extensive use of performance-enhancing drugs in Major League Baseball. He will be charged with monitoring Penn State’s compliance with the sanctions.
Sandusky was convicted in June of 45 counts of child sexual abuse, including attacks on boys inside athletics facilities at Penn State, where he played college football and became a successful defensive coach under Joe Paterno.
“He said, ‘To do what they’re doing to Penn State is so unjust,'” Amendola said. “He loves the program and he loves the university.”
Amendola said Sandusky has asked county jail officials to remove him from what is effectively solitary confinement.
“He continues to believe that the truth will come out at some point, and that he’ll get another trial or another opportunity to establish his innocence,” Amendola said.
A spokesman for the attorney general’s office declined to comment.
Amendola said he expects sentencing will occur in September, although a date has not been set. He has been writing a statement he’d like to read before sentencing, his lawyer said.
