Former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky has waived his right for a preliminary hearing in his child molestation case, CBS News is reporting. While the move spared his accusers from stating their claims in court, but according to his attorney, Joseph Amendola, the decision was tactical on his part.
Amendola said the credibility of the witnesses will be a key issue, and believes some changed their stories or lied just for monetary gain. But he’s prepared to “fight to the death,” and added that there won’t be a plea negotiation. Sandusky has denied the allegations against him. He’s charged with more than 50 counts of sexually abusing 10 boys over the course of 12 years.
Eleven witnesses were waiting to testify for the prosecution against Sandusky in the preliminary hearing. Penn State assistant coach Mike McQueary, who has been placed on administrative leave, was one of the witnesses. At the hearing, the prosecutors were set to show that they have probable cause to bring the case to trial.
Sandusky decided to waive the hearing because he wanted to “head off a repeat of the child sex-abuse allegations,” Amendola said. He added that the decision had nothing to do with cowardice, and he wasn’t conceding guilt.
Senior Deputy Attorney General E. Marc Costanzo said Sandusky’s decision to waive the hearing wasn’t unusual, given the strength of the state’s case. “This development we believe provides maximum protection to most importantly the victims in this case. It avoids their having to testify for a second time. They will of course testify at a trial in the case,” he added.
Written by: Karen Benardello
