One would think that when your client's future is hanging on the line, you would be a tad more careful what you say in nationally televised press conferences. But alleged pedophile Jerry Sandusky's lawyer, Joe Amendola, seems to have made some interesting gaffes over the past few weeks. First of all, Sandusky's interviews, including the one with Bob Costas, have not painted him in a very positive light. In fact, that Bob Costas interview pretty much tipped the scales for me, in terms of his guilt. I mean, who horses around naked with young boys, and thinks it's perfectly okay to shower and "touch their thigh", as he so openly admitted to Costas? This is not normal adult behaviour.
Then we have today's gaffe, not major, but pretty darn bizarre. After Sandusky chose to waive his preliminary hearing rights today, Amendola took to the microphone.
Trying to be clever, Amendola suggested that we oh-so-naive ones who believe that Paterno et al responded to Mike McQueary's sexual abuse allegations with a simple 'stay out of the shower with young kids, dude', should dial "1-800-REALITY" . So, Deadspin.com took him up on that suggestion and dialed the number , and what they got was a gay phone-sex line. Ooops. Or maybe not. You have to wonder, does Amendola think that his client is guilty and is just letting him hang himself- well, figuratively speaking? Obviously, the 1-800 gaffe was unintentional, but it is all very strange, nonetheless.
Sources: Sports Grid, NY Daily News
Showing posts with label Jerry Sandusky. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jerry Sandusky. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Saturday, December 10, 2011
In Denial- Jerry Sandusky's Wife Claims He's Innocent of Sex Abuse Allegations
I know that in our justice system a person is innocent until proven guilty, but every once in a while you witness a case where that person is quite obviously not. Jerry Sandusky, a married father of 6 adopted children, is one of those cases. A retired Penn State assistant football coach, he was also founder of The Second Mile, a nonprofit organization for underprivileged and at-risk youth established in 1977. It was a bunch of these boys, over 15 years, that he allegedly sexually abused. Arrested back in November of this year, he was charged with molesting 8 young boys, although 2 more have come forward since the initial Grand Jury indictment.
According to the victims, he showered them with gifts and overnight stays at the Sandusky residence where they usually stayed in a finished room in the basement, and where much of the sexual abuse took place. But it wasn't just there that Sandusky molested the boys, the assaults took place elsewhere including on the Penn State campus, in gyms, in locker rooms, at a golf resort and a conference center. And there were witnesses as far back as 1998, when a mother confronted Sandusky about inappropriate behaviour with her son. In 2000, a janitor claims he saw the assault on victim 8. Then in 2002, Mike McQueary (a grad student) discovered a naked Sandusky and what looked to be a 10-year-old boy having an inappropriate sexual encounter in the Lasch Building locker room at 9:30 p.m. The next day he reported it to the head coach, Joe Paterno, who called his boss Tim Curley (athletic director). A meeting was called between the grad student, Curley and Gary Schultz, Senior VP of Finance and Business. A few weeks later McQueary was told Sandusky's locker room keys were taken away, and that he had been reported to The second Mile. But Curley and Schultz did nothing further, and the abuse continued.
Over 15 years, that we know of, he took advantage of troubled boys, and you have to wonder what took so long?!
First of all you have Curley and Schultz who essentially sheltered a pedophile for 7 to 8 years after they were alerted to his sexual deviancy. Why? Probably because Sandusky was a great coach, and the young boys didn't matter to them as much as maintaining a stellar football programme. They have since paid the price, and were also arrested early November for failing to notify authorities and lying about the way in which they handled the allegations. Paterno was not arrested, but he was fired by Penn State for failing to do enough to prevent Sandusky from continuing to abuse. It's unconscionable that all those Penn State officials knew what had occurred and did absolutely nothing about it. They are as guilty as Sandusky for allowing it to continue.
Then we have Sandusky's wife 'Dottie', who is in total denial. How could she have not known what was going on, down in the basement? One of the latest victims claims he screamed for help, to no avail.
But she says all 10 boys are lying. In a statement released by her husband's lawyer she had this to say:
In denial, or too mortified to admit she enabled a pedophile to abuse young boys for all those years. And what about the 6 adopted kids? Did they have any inkling of what was going on, but were too afraid or embarrassed to say anything?
But the one most in denial is Sandusky himself. He is totally convinced of his innocence, but this Bob Costas interview is pretty damning.Take note, that when asked if he's a pedophile, he says no, when asked if he's sexually attracted to young, underage boys. He hesitates. Repeats the question, "Am I sexually attracted to boys? Sexually attracted? No,I, I enjoy young people. I love to be around them, but no, I'm not attracted."
There is something terribly wrong with a man who admits he has showered naked with young boys, 'horsed around" with them and touched their legs. And that hesitation, when asked by Bob Costas, if he is sexually attracted to young boys, says it all.
timeline of Sandusky's conduct.
According to the victims, he showered them with gifts and overnight stays at the Sandusky residence where they usually stayed in a finished room in the basement, and where much of the sexual abuse took place. But it wasn't just there that Sandusky molested the boys, the assaults took place elsewhere including on the Penn State campus, in gyms, in locker rooms, at a golf resort and a conference center. And there were witnesses as far back as 1998, when a mother confronted Sandusky about inappropriate behaviour with her son. In 2000, a janitor claims he saw the assault on victim 8. Then in 2002, Mike McQueary (a grad student) discovered a naked Sandusky and what looked to be a 10-year-old boy having an inappropriate sexual encounter in the Lasch Building locker room at 9:30 p.m. The next day he reported it to the head coach, Joe Paterno, who called his boss Tim Curley (athletic director). A meeting was called between the grad student, Curley and Gary Schultz, Senior VP of Finance and Business. A few weeks later McQueary was told Sandusky's locker room keys were taken away, and that he had been reported to The second Mile. But Curley and Schultz did nothing further, and the abuse continued.
Over 15 years, that we know of, he took advantage of troubled boys, and you have to wonder what took so long?!
First of all you have Curley and Schultz who essentially sheltered a pedophile for 7 to 8 years after they were alerted to his sexual deviancy. Why? Probably because Sandusky was a great coach, and the young boys didn't matter to them as much as maintaining a stellar football programme. They have since paid the price, and were also arrested early November for failing to notify authorities and lying about the way in which they handled the allegations. Paterno was not arrested, but he was fired by Penn State for failing to do enough to prevent Sandusky from continuing to abuse. It's unconscionable that all those Penn State officials knew what had occurred and did absolutely nothing about it. They are as guilty as Sandusky for allowing it to continue.
Then we have Sandusky's wife 'Dottie', who is in total denial. How could she have not known what was going on, down in the basement? One of the latest victims claims he screamed for help, to no avail.
But she says all 10 boys are lying. In a statement released by her husband's lawyer she had this to say:
"I want to thank our children, our family, our extended family of former Second Mile participants, and all our friends for standing by us through these difficult times. Jerry and I want to express our sorrow for all the hurt that has come to those who have supported us and our beloved Penn State and State College Communities.
"I have been shocked and dismayed by the allegations made against Jerry, particularly the most recent one that a now young man has said he was kept in our basement during visits and screamed for help as Jerry assaulted him while I was in our home and didn’t respond to his cries for help.
"As the mother of six children, I have been devastated by these accusations. I am also angry about these false accusations that such a terrible incident ever occurred in my home. No child who ever visited our home was ever forced to stay in our basement and fed there. All the kids who visited us ate with us and our kids and other guests when they were at our home. Our children, our extended family and friends know how much Jerry and I love kids and have always tried to help and care for them. We would never do anything to hurt them. I am so sad anyone would make such a terrible accusation which is absolutely untrue. We don’t know why these young men have made these false accusations, but we want everyone to know they are untrue.
"I continue to believe in Jerry’s innocence and all the good things he has done. Jerry’s many success stories with his Second Mile kids and positive memories of those kids keep me going. I am asking everyone to please be reasonable and open-minded until both sides of this case are heard, and Jerry has the opportunity to prove his innocence.
"I would like to thank all those individuals who continue to support Jerry and hope they will continue to support us through the conclusion of this very sad time in our lives."
In denial, or too mortified to admit she enabled a pedophile to abuse young boys for all those years. And what about the 6 adopted kids? Did they have any inkling of what was going on, but were too afraid or embarrassed to say anything?
But the one most in denial is Sandusky himself. He is totally convinced of his innocence, but this Bob Costas interview is pretty damning.Take note, that when asked if he's a pedophile, he says no, when asked if he's sexually attracted to young, underage boys. He hesitates. Repeats the question, "Am I sexually attracted to boys? Sexually attracted? No,I, I enjoy young people. I love to be around them, but no, I'm not attracted."
There is something terribly wrong with a man who admits he has showered naked with young boys, 'horsed around" with them and touched their legs. And that hesitation, when asked by Bob Costas, if he is sexually attracted to young boys, says it all.
timeline of Sandusky's conduct.
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