Jerry Sandusky Expected to Face Victim 1 in Sex Abuse Trial
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Patrick Smith/Getty Images(BELLEFONTE, Pa.) — A recent high school graduate who, as a freshman, made accusations of sexual abuse against Jerry Sandusky is expected to testify on Tuesday about how the former Penn State football coach molested him in his basement during sleepovers.
The young man known as Victim 1, who graduated high school earlier this month, prompted the three-year investigation into Sandusky after telling his mother in 2008 that he wanted to look up “ex weirdos” online because of Sandusky. The then-freshman and his mother reported allegations of abuse to his high school, which notified authorities. The prosecution might call school officials or investigators on Tuesday to support Victim 1’s testimony.
The widespread investigation launched after Victim 1’s report resulted in 52 charges of child sex abuse for Sandusky, stemming from the complaints of eight accusers and two eyewitness accounts. Defense attorney Joseph Amendola said on Monday that Sandusky has always maintained his innocence, and that the alleged victims were likely lying for financial gain.
A wrestling coach at Victim 1’s high school returned to a small, secluded wrestling room late one school night and found Sandusky and Victim 1 lying on the floor facing one another, according to the grand jury report. Sandusky told the coach that they were working on wrestling moves, although Sandusky was not a wrestling coach.
Victim 1’s testimony is expected to reiterate the pattern of abuse introduced by the man known as Victim 4 on Monday, who described Sandusky placing his hand on the boy’s knee, rubbing his stomach and blowing on his stomach, and starting soap fights in the showers of the Penn State locker rooms after workouts that quickly turned into sexual assaults.
Sandusky, 68, showed little emotion during testimony Monday, shaking his head once when the accuser said that Sandusky offered him a walk-on spot on the Nittany Lions football team.
The prosecution is expected to call six more alleged victims to the stand during the trial, in addition to key witness Mike McQueary, who alleges that he saw Sandusky rape a boy in the football locker room showers.
Sandusky himself might take the stand in his own defense, according to statements made by Amendola during opening statements Monday.
“It was routine for people to get in the showers in Jerry’s culture,” Amendola said. “He’s going to tell you later, it was routine for individuals to take showers together.”
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