HARRISBURG —
The judge in Jerry Sandusky’s 52-count child sex abuse case on Wednesday rejected a defense attorney’s request for a two-month delay and indicated he was reluctant to push back the May 14 start of jury selection.
Judge John Cleland’s eight-page memo and order said a postponement should only be a last resort and would require concrete justification.
“Absent extraordinary circumstances presented by either the commonwealth or the defendant, postponement of the trial date will only be considered if required by the demands of selecting a jury and providing for their care, conflicting demands on courtroom space, or similar logistical complications,” Cleland said.
Cleland did grant Sandusky lawyer Joe Amendola three extra weeks to file a catch-all pretrial motion that had been due Thursday, and ordered prosecutors to disclose addresses and phone numbers of witnesses within seven days. He also adjusted other pretrial timetables.
“We will move forward with Jerry’s defense, and we look forward to receiving additional discovery materials from the commonwealth,” Amendola said in response.
A spokesman for the attorney general’s office declined comment.
Sandusky, 68, denies allegations he engaged in sexual misconduct involving 10 boys over 15 years. He remains confined to his home while awaiting trial.
The former longtime defensive coordinator at Penn State founded The Second Mile, a charity for children where prosecutors claim he found victims.
Amendola had argued he needed the additional time to interview witnesses, subpoena records and hire experts.
Cleland said both sides agreed to the May start in early January, and indicated he was not persuaded by Amendola’s “unsupported references to unidentified witnesses who might testify about unspecified issues.”
“There is no assurance at this point that any delay of the trial to mid-July will not, in turn, give rise to subsequent issues prompting a request for still more delay. Delay has a way of begetting delay,” Cleland wrote.
Also awaiting trial are Penn State athletic director Tim Curley and vice president Gary Schultz, both accused of lying to a grand jury investigating Sandusky and failing to properly report suspected child abuse.
They have asked a judge to dismiss their charges, and no trial date has been set. Curley is currently on leave and Schultz has retired.
The arrests led the board to oust university president Graham Spanier and longtime football coach Joe Paterno, although neither was charged. Paterno died last month of lung cancer at age 85.
Penn State Scandal
Judge denies Sandusky trial delay
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Paterno family speaks at child abuse event
On the night before he died, Joe Paterno scrawled a message that his wife Sue did not find until after the legendary coach had passed away. In that message, Joe Paterno noted the silver lining in the child sex abuse coverup that led to his firing might be that the scandal could inspire a greater awareness about child abuse.
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Judge: No new trial for Sandusky
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Ex-PSU president Spanier charged in sex abuse scandal
Former Penn State President Graham Spanier on Thursday became the latest high-ranking school official to face charges in the child sex-abuse scandal involving former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky. Additional charges were also filed against two other school officials already charged in the case.
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Our Opinion: Sandusky jail term protects children and sends a message
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Jerry Sandusky will die in prison, judge says
Jerry Sandusky was sentenced Tuesday to at least 30 years in prison — effectively a life sentence — in the child-sex-abuse scandal that brought shame to Penn State and led to coach Joe Paterno's downfall. A defiant Sandusky gave a rambling statement in which he denied the allegations and talked about his life in prison and the pain of being away from his family.
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Former PSU assistant Jerry Sandusky sentenced to at least 30 years in prison
Jerry Sandusky was sentenced Tuesday to at least 30 years in prison — effectively a life sentence — in the child sexual abuse scandal that brought shame to Penn State and led to coach Joe Paterno's downfall. A defiant Sandusky gave a rambling statement in which he denied the allegations and talked about his life in prison and the pain of being away from his family.
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Penn State officials lose pretrial motion on perjury
Two weeks before former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky is expected to be sentenced on child molestation charges, a county judge determined that perjury charges should remain in place against two university administrators.
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Lawyer: Sandusky regrets not taking the stand
Former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky regrets not taking the stand at his child sex abuse trial and likely will be sentenced next month, his defense lawyer said Wednesday.
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Paternos adjust to new Penn State era
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Penn State Scandal: Former president Spanier goes on offensive
Penn State’s disgraced former president is trying to convince the public he had no idea that Jerry Sandusky was a child molester. Graham Spanier claims that he most certainly did not protect one.
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Paterno family speaks at child abuse event
