BELLEFONTE, Pa.
Former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky waived his preliminary hearing, a decision that moves him toward a trial on charges of child sex abuse and vacates the possibility that he would face his accusers in court today.
Sandusky told reporters as he left the courthouse that he would “ stay the course, to fight for four quarters” and “wait for the opportunity to present our side.”
His decision to waive the hearing, though unexpected, is not unusual in Pennsylvania.
At the hearings, prosecutors must show that they have probable cause to bring the case to trial. Prosecutors in this case were expected to meet that relatively low bar, in part because the case been through a grand jury.
Sandusky has denied the allegations, which led to the departures of longtime Penn State football coach Joe Paterno and the university president. He is charged with more than 50 counts that accuse him of sexually abusing 10 boys over the span of 12 years.
“ This development we believe provides maximum protection to most importantly the victims in this case,” said Senior Deputy Attorney General E. Marc Costanzo. “It avoids their having to testify for a second time. They will of course testify at a trial in the case.”
Costanzo said the amount of publicity generated by Sandusky’s attorney made the move unexpected, but said the decision to waive was not unusual given the strength of the state’s case.
There have been no discussions about a plea bargain, Costanzo said, echoing statements from Sandusky’s lawyer, Joseph Amendola. Sandusky’s next court appearance, an arraignment, is scheduled for Jan. 11. He remains under house arrest.
Michael Boni, a lawyer for one of the accusers, said he was encouraged by the development. The accusers “do not have to relive the horrors they experience up on the witness stand” by having to testify at the hearing and at trial.
A lawyer for another victim, a boy whose mother contacted police in 1998 after her son allegedly showered with Sandusky, said waiving the hearing amounted to more abuse of the accusers, who had steeled themselves to testify.
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