Former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky faces possible sentencing up to nearly 400 years in prison after his conviction on 45 counts of sex abuse against boys, and now he has a date to find out just what his punishment will be.
StateCollege.com reports that Judge John Cleland will hold a hearing at 9 a.m. October 9 to determine if Sandusky is to be labeled a sexually violent predator, and Sandusky’s sentencing will occur immediately after that hearing.
Scout.com reports that both the hearing and the sentencing will take place in Courtroom 1 of the Centre County Courthouse in Bellefonte, Pa. There will also be a pre-sentencing conference with counsel for both Sandusky and the state in the judge’s chamber the day before at 2 p.m.
The once-respected coach was convicted of abusing various boys, sometimes using his connections with the Second Mile charity and with the Penn State football program. The ensuing investigations brought about the end of former Penn State head coach Joe Paterno’s tenure as coach and tarnished his legacy.
The NCAA also levied sanctions against the school as a result of the Sandusky scandal.
Jerry Sandusky has been held in the Centre County Correctional Facility since his conviction June 22 on 45 of 48 counts of sexually abusing 10 boys over a 15-year period.
Setting a date for Sandusky’s sentencing will bring the the story, one that has grabbed the attention of the nation, a step closer to an end.
What are your thoughts? Is nearly 400 years in prison enough time for Jerry Sandusky? Or would you suggest a different sentence?