Weeks from being sentenced to what should amount to death in prison, former Penn State assistant football coach and convicted child molester Jerry Sandusky said through his lawyer that he regrets not taking the stand at trial.
Attorney Joe Amendola said he has not received a presentence report for Sandusky from the county court system and the defense has not decided whether to contest a recommendation that the 68-year-old be declared a sexually violent predator under Pennsylvania’s Megan’s Law, which would subject him to stringent reporting requirements if he is ever released on parole.
“The reality is Jerry is going to get a sentence, which, if it’s not reversed on appeal, is going to be tantamount to a life sentence,” his attorney Joe Amendola said.
Sandusky, who maintains his innocence despite the gut-wrenching testimony of several victims, acknowledged that he showered with boys but that he never molested them. And he regrets not taking the witness stand to dispute the claims of several young men who accused him of abuse, Amendola said.
“He does now (regret not testifying),” Amendola said. “What do they say about Monday morning? 20-20?”
Amendola had suggested in his opening statement to the jury that Sandusky might testify. But he also said he has continued to warn Sandusky about plans to make a statement at sentencing to Judge John Cleland because going into specifics could be a factor if he eventually gets a new trial.
Amendola said anything Sandusky says could be used against him and he has talked to Sandusky “about being cautious.”
He said the sentencing for Sandusky, who was convicted in late June, is “looking more and more like it’s going to be October,” based on “the fact that we haven’t gotten a date (yet).”
Asked about reports that Sandusky was working on a book while incarcerated, Amendola said it was more like a long version of Sandusky’s account that might be helpful to other lawyers during any appeals process.
Amendola has begun work on post-trial motions that can’t be filed until after sentencing. He said Sandusky will have 10 days to file post-sentencing motions and the judge would have four or five months to rule on them. If Sandusky loses those efforts, he would then have a month to file an appeal to Superior Court.
