Jerry Sandusky Maintains Innocence, 'Would Cherish The Opportunity To Become A Candle For Others'
Oct. 8 2012, Published 2:00 p.m. ET
By Debbie Emery - RadarOnline.com Reporter
10:30 a.m. EST: UPDATE: Former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky was sentenced to 30 to 60 years in prison Tuesday. Story developing…
Former Penn State assistant coach Jerry Sandusky will read a statement during his sentencing hearing Tuesday morning following his conviction on 45 counts of sexually abusing 10 boys over a 15-year period. Several of his victims are also expected to read impact statements during the emotionally-charged hearing that comes just a day after Sandusky released a public statement from his jail cell, claiming he is innocent.
"I'm responding to the worst loss of my life," said Sandusky from the Bellefonte, Pennsylvania prison in the stunning recording that aired on the Penn State Student Radio.
"They can take away my life, they can make me out as a monster, they can treat me as a monster, but they can't take away my heart. In my heart, I know I did not do these alleged disgusting acts. My wife has been my only sex partner, and that was after marriage. Our love continues," he vowed.
As RadarOnline.com previously reported, after being found guilty in June, Sandusky, 68, is expecting to serve a long-term prison sentence in the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections and even his own attorney believes he will probably pass away behind bars.
Once sentenced, he will be sent to the Camp Hill state prison near Harrisburg, the Associated Press reports, where he will be subjected to a couple weeks of mental and physical health testing and will be treated as needed.
Instead of accepting the verdict and apologizing to his many victims, Sandusky claimed that his accusers were lying attention-seekers making up stories about him for "attention, financial gain, prestige."
Sandusky's sex scandal and subsequent trial rocked Penn State to its core and forever sullied the reputation of longtime head coach, Joe Paterno, who died of lung cancer in January at age 85, after being diagnosed with the disease in November just days after he was ousted from the school.
Read the full statement from Jerry Sandusky here:
"I'm responding to the worst loss of my life. First, I looked at myself. Over and over, I asked why? Why didn't we have a fair opportunity to prepare for trial? Why have so many people suffered as a result of false allegations? What's the purpose? Maybe it will help others; some vulnerable children who could be abused, might not be because of all the publicity. That would be nice, but I'm not sure about it.
"I would cherish the opportunity to become a candle for others, as they have been a light for me. They could take away my life, they could make me out as a monster, they could treat me as a monster, but they can't take away my heart. In my heart, I know I did not do these alleged disgusting acts.
"My wife has been my only sex partner that was after marriage. Our love continues. A young man who was a dramatic veteran accuser, and always sought attention, started everything. He was joined by a well-orchestrated effort of the media, investigators, the system, Penn State, psychologists, civil attorneys and other accusers. They won. I've wondered what they really won: Attention, financial gain, prestige & will all be temporary.
"Before you blame me, as others have, look at everything and everybody. Look at the preparation for the trial and the trial. Compare it to others. Think about what happened. Why, and who made it happen? Evaluate the accusers and their families. Realize they didn't come out of isolation. The accusers were products of many more people and experiences than me. Look at their confidants and their honesty. Think about how easy it was for them to turn on me given the information, attention and potential perks. I never labeled or put down them or their families. I tried and I cared, then asked for the same.
"Please realize all came to the Second Mile because of issues. Some of those may remain.
"We will continue to fight. We didn't lose the proven facts, evidence, accurate locations and times. Anything can be said. We lost to speculation and stories that were influenced by people who wanted to convict me. We must fight unfairness and consistency and dishonesty. People need to be portrayed for who they really are. We've not been complainers. When we couldn't have kids, we adopted. When we didn't have time to prepare for a trial, we still gave it our best. We will fight for another chance. We have given many second chances, and now we'll ask for one. It will take more than our effort.
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"Justice will have to be more than just a word; fairness more than just a dream. It will take others: somebody apolitical with the courage to listen, to think about the unfairness, to have the guts to stand up and take the road less traveled. I ask for the strength to handle everything and willingness to surrender only to God, regardless of the outcome."
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