Former college football coach Jerry Sandusky is expected to speak at his sentencing probably pleading not guilty. Some of his victims would be addressing the judge at the sentencing Tuesday as well. Sandusky won the Assistant Coach of the Year award in 1986 and 1999.
Sandusky is likely to be sent to the Camp Hill state prison following Tuesday's hearing. The Department of Corrections personnel will test and evaluate him to determine which institution the 68-year-old offender needs to be sent to.
''It's as certain as certain can be that the former Penn State assistant football coach will speak to Judge John Cleland and assert his innocence before he is sentenced on 45 counts of child sexual abuse. What I anticipate he'll say is he's innocent," the Associated Press quoted Sandusky's lawyer Joe Amendola as saying.
Amendola also added that no one was expected to speak in support of Sandusky, although his wife Dottie, who is planning to attend the hearing, has written letters in his support. His other well-wishers include a few friends and family members.
Sandusky might spend the rest of his life in prison due to the seriousness of the crime and the number of charges pressed against him. He was found guilty June 22, 2012, on as many as 45 charges. He allegedly molested 10 young boys over 15 years, which included a few attacks inside the Penn State athletic facilities.
Sandusky was arrested and charged with 52 counts of sexual abuse of young boys over a 15-year period in 2011, following a two-year grand jury investigation.
His lawyer added, ''The important thing for us is, it starts the appellate process."
Tom Kline, lawyer for one of Sandusky's victims, confirmed that his client wanted to read a statement before the jury Tuesday. His client had been groped by Sandusky in a shower when he was barely 13 years old.
Kline said, ''He's going to tell the judge how this has affected him, how it's been painful and difficult."
According to Joe McGettigan, about six victims will be present at the hearing, giving their statements against the offender.
As per the victims' statements, Sandusky's abuse included acts of fondling, grooming, oral and anal sex. About eight victims testified these charges. Sandusky, however, has denied the charges, declaring that he is not guilty.
Sandusky's other defense lawyer, Karl Rominger, said the defense could at best reduce the sentencing to 30 years, but that would still keep him in prison till the time he's 100.
He added, ''Why worry about the niceties of pleasing the court when it won't change your sentence?''
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