Former assistant coach for Penn State football and all around pariah Jerry Sandusky was convicted on 45 counts of child sexual abuse, and today sentencing came down.
It’s exactly what you think. The book got thrown at him — he got 30 to 60 years in prison.
Judge John Cleland decided 30 to 60 years was enough. Under Pennsylvania law, you can’t be eligible for parole until your minimum time has been served. At 68, Sandusky won’t be getting out until he’s a shade under 100 years old.
Before you go noting how things are going to circle around and say Sandusky’s going to get brutalized in prison, let’s just take a moment and realize that at his age, and with the nature of his crimes, there is zero chance he goes into general population. He’s going to be in the infirmary for the rest of his days.
For Sandusky’s part, he remained defiant and claimed conspiracy. In a rambling fifteen minute statement, he denied he committed any crime, complained about his treatment, missed his family, and called himself a victim of the culture of Penn State.
He’s also blamed some of his victims, calling them attention-seekers and habitual liars.
Judge Cleland also stated: “I’m not going to sentence you to centuries in prison, although the law will permit that.”
Which, really, is the sign of a great judge. Centuries in prison would be appealed and easily overturned and possibly reduced to something much smaller after the furor has died post-conviction.
But technically giving less than a year per conviction? It’s airtight and the result is still the same — a predatorial dickbag going to prison for the remainder of his terrible existence.
Question: Do you think Sandusky got the proper sentence?
