Jerry Sandusky Interview with Bob Costas

[BucD+ 648]

 

The interview was done by Bob Costas on the Brian Williams show, Rock Center. Here's the article that goes with the video from their site.

 

By Jessica Hopper

Rock Center

 

UPDATED: Former Penn State assistant coach Jerry Sandusky admitted to showering and horsing around with young boys, but said he is not a pedophile, in an exclusive interview with Bob Costas broadcast Monday night on NBC's Rock Center.

 

"I say that I am innocent of those charges," Sandusky said in the phone interview.

 

When asked by Costas, "Are you a pedophile," Sandusky responded, "No."

 

Joe Paterno’s one-time defensive coordinator was charged earlier this month with 40 criminal counts accusing him of sexual abuse of minors. He is currently free on a $100,000 bond and has denied any wrongdoing. The allegations date back to 1994, according to the grand jury report filed November 5 in Pennsylvania state court. The report detailed claims of alleged sexual encounters with as many as eight boys in Sandusky's home, hotels and Penn State locker rooms.

 

"I could say that I have done some of those things. I have horsed around with kids. I have showered after workouts. I have hugged them and I have touched their legs without intent of sexual contact," said Sandusky.

 

When asked by Costas to concede any wrongdoing, Sandusky said, "I shouldn't have showered with those kids."

 

Sandusky's attorney, Joseph Amendola, verified Sandusky's voice and asserted his client's innocence.

 

"I believe in Jerry's innocence. Quite honestly, Bob, that's why I'm involved in the case," Amendola said.

 

"We expect we're going to have a number of kids, now how many of those so called eight kids we're not sure, but we anticipate we're going to have at least several of those kids come forward and say this never happened. This is me, this is the allegation, it never occurred. In fact, one of the toughest allegations...what [Mike] McQueary said he saw, we have information that that child said that never happened," Amendola said.

 

McQueary is currently on paid administrative leave from his job as an assistant coach for Penn State's football team. In 2002, while a graduate assistant, he witnessed Sandusky allegedly engaged in a sexual act with a minor in the Penn State locker room's showers, according to the grand jury report. He told Paterno what he witnessed, according to the grand jury testimony.

 

Sandusky said McQueary's claims are false.

 

"We were showering and horsing around and he [the boy] actually turned all the showers on and was actually sliding across the floor and we were, as I recall, possibly like snapping a towel," Sandusky said. McQueary's allegations were never reported to the police.

 

Sandusky also addressed allegations that he apologized to the mother of one of the alleged victims and said "I wish I were dead" in 1998.

 

"I didn't say, to my recollection, that I wish I were dead. I was hopeful that we could reconcile things," Sandusky said.

 

The scandal has tarnished the reputation of the once-heralded football program, leading to the departure of coaching legend Paterno and three other university officials. It’s also left students and residents of State College, Penn., shocked. Sandusky said that right now isn't "the best days of my life."

 

"How would you think I would feel about a university that I attended, about people that I worked with, about people that I care so much about and how do you think I would feel about it? I feel horrible," Sandusky said.

 

When asked if he felt responsible for damaging Penn State's image, Sandusky said, "I don't think it's my fault. I've obviously played a part in this, but I don't think I should be accused as I have been."

 

The sight of 67-year-old Sandusky in handcuffs is hard to reconcile with his public image of a devoted father of six adopted kids who founded a charity to help at risk youth. That charity, The Second Mile, has also come under fire.

 

According to the grand jury report, all of the alleged sex abuse victims met Sandusky through their participation in The Second Mile. Sandusky founded the charity in 1977 as a group foster home for troubled boys. It spawned into a non-profit organization that has raised millions of dollars to help young boys and girls. Today, Chief Executive Officer Jack Raykovitz’s resignation was announced by the non-profit organization’s board of directors.

 

Sandusky gave up his day-to-day duties at The Second Mile in 2010. While Sandusky retired from Pennsylvania State University in 1999, he continued to have access to Penn State’s facilities.

 

"I don't know what I can say or what I could say that would make anybody feel any different now. I would just say that if somehow people could hang on until my attorney has a chance to fight for my innocence, that's about all I can ask right now. Obviously, it's a huge challenge," Sandusky said.

 

When asked if he had a sexual attraction to underage boys, Sandusky said, "I enjoy young people. I love to be around them, but no, I'm not sexually attracted to young boys."

 

Editor's Note: In an earlier edition of this report, we mistakenly identified a location of Sandusky's alleged sexual encounters as Paterno's home. According to the grand jury report, it was Sandusky's home.

SOURCE

Edited November 15, 2011 by BucD

[Bay 2,003]

I had to change the channel to NFLN, the dude is too weird and is full of shit.

[Anthony 78]

I thought it was strange that Sandusky's lawyer said the boy caught in the shower with Sandusky when McQueary wandered in will testify that nothing happened, yet the District Attorney continues to say that boy remains unidentified.

 

It's also different statements to read into, when you hear Sandusky's words and those of Joe Paterno. Joe Pa tells students to "pray a little for the victims", while Sandusky claims there aren't any victims.

[BucD+ 648]

I had to change the channel to NFLN, the dude is too weird and is full of shit.

 

He sounds creepy as hell...and guilty as sin.

[BwareDWare94 723]

You don't shower with kids. Simple as that. It's creepy as hell.

[Maverick 791]

Bob Costas handled the interview pretty well...

[KiLaSix9+ 398]

Bob Costas handled the interview pretty well...

Yeah, he's one hell of a professional. I imagine a lot of dudes losing their cool and just going off on the sicko for flat out denying these allegations.

[KeVo 176]

This sick sack of shit is guilty. Makes me wanna puke.

[Anthony 78]

This sick sack of shit is guilty. Makes me wanna puke.

 

Here's a question. There's nothing bigger than Penn State in that area of the country. Do you think a jury of his "peers" would convict him, knowing what the ramifications would be for the college? A conviction could sink the entire community.

[WindyCitySports 407]

Here's a question. There's nothing bigger than Penn State in that area of the country. Do you think a jury of his "peers" would convict him, knowing what the ramifications would be for the college? A conviction could sink the entire community.

Yes, I do. The people in University Park hate the guy for ruining kids lives, embarrassing PSU, and getting JoePa fired. I think the fact that they're from Central PA makes them more likely to convict him.

 

Any thoughts of innocence that I had were lost when he didn't flat out deny being attracted to young boys. If he wanted to maintain any possibility of being found not guilty he would have answered "no." instead, he danced around the question.

 

I would also like to recommend that this post be moved to the Big Ten section.

[Anthony 78]

Yes, I do. The people in University Park hate the guy for ruining kids lives, embarrassing PSU, and getting JoePa fired. I think the fact that they're from Central PA makes them more likely to convict him.

 

I believe the opposite. I think there's a greater chance of an acquittal if this case is tried in that county. Penn State and Sandusky money is everywhere, and here's just one example:

 

Report: Jerry Sandusky's charity official raised money for district judge who set his bail

 

State College district judge Leslie Dutchcot, who set Jerry Sandusky's bail lower than what prosecutors asked for, benefited from a fundraiser organized by an official with The Second Mile, a children's charity started by Sandusky, according to My Fox Philly.

 

Prosecutors say Sandusky, a former Penn State assistant football coach, found victims through the charity. Sandusky was charged in the sexual assault of eight boys.

 

Dutchcot listed The Second Mile as a charity for which she volunteered. According to a source close to the case this week, Dutchcot had only small roles at a few events in 2008 and 2009 -- after Sandusky stopped participating in charity events -- and never talked to Sandusky himself.

 

However, Rep. Mike Vereb, R-Montgomery County, who is asking for an investigation into Dutchcot's connection to the charity, said that documents show Robert Poole, the chairman of The Second Mile, held a fundraiser for Duchtot in 2007 as she was running for office. The fundraiser netted $1,463 and was held at Poole's house in State College, Pa., according to the My Fox Philly report.

 

Vereb sent a letter to State Supreme Court Chief Justice Ronald Castille Monday, asking the judge to look into why Dutchcot ignored the requests of prosecutors when they sought bail of $500,000 and that Sandusky wear an ankle bracelet for tracking.

[Duck Fallas 209]

I am still wondering why Joe Paterno caught so much flack for "not doing enough" while the person who supposedly caught Sandusky in the act manages to escape public scorn. The only thing McQueary did to prevent anything more was exactly what Paterno did; he told his boss and expected his boss to handle the problem. Why did McQuesary go to the police?

 

It is also funny to me how Paterno had his legacy trashed without even being named in ANY indictments or having charges filed against him in any fashion.

 

As for Sandusky, when(if) he is found guilty, I hope the fucking fry his ass.

 

FTR; I put the word "if" in parentheses because even in cases like this, I believe that EVERYONE is innocent until PROVEN guilty in court. Even scum like this fucker.