Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

Jerry Sandusky is appealing Judge John Cleland’s decision denying him a new trial. Last month, Cleland rejected arguments that defense attorneys didn't have enough time to prepare for the trial that ended in the former Penn State assistant football coach’s conviction on 45 charges of child sex abuse. Cleland also rejected post-sentencing motions regarding jury instructions and hearsay testimony. In documents filed Wednesday in Centre County Court, and released to the media today, Sandusky lawyer Joe Amendola did not say what issues he plans to argue in his appeal to the Superior Court. Sandusky is serving a 30- to 60-year state prison sentence. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Jerry Sandusky's lawyers are asking for a couple more weeks to file briefs in support of his effort to have his convictions on child sex abuse charges overturned. Defense attorney Joe Amendola today asked Judge John Cleland for the extension, saying lead appeals lawyer Norris Gelman recently had a heart attack and open-heart surgery, and could not start work on the case until midi-October. Sandusky is serving a 30- to 60-year prison sentence, which he says is excessive. Sandusky also wants a new trial if the convictions are not overturned, saying hearsay evidence was improperly allowed and there wasn’t enough other evidence for convictions. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The state attorney general’s offices says Jerry Sandusky’s lawyers have been improperly issuing subpoenas and using them for a fishing expedition to help mount a defense in his child sex abuse case. The AG’s office today asked Judge John Cleland to have the subpoenas withdrawn and to force Sandusky’s lawyers to show how the information they want is relevant to the case. The motion filed in Centre County Court claims Sandusky’s lawyers sent subpoenas that improperly revealed the names of alleged victims. Senior Deputy Attorney General Joseph McGettigan wrote that treating secret information that way shows “spectacular irresponsibility.” Cleland issued a gag order on April 9 so Sandusky’s lead counsel Joe Amendola could not speak to the media about today’s motion. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Judge John Cleland has ordered the attorney general’s office to turn over the phone numbers and addresses of the people who have accused Jerry Sandusky of sexually abusing them when they were children. Late last week Sandusky’s lawyer Joe Amendola filed a motion saying it would be difficult to locate the accusers and interview them without getting contact information from prosecutors. In his order released late this morning, Cleland also required prosecutors to disclose any juvenile adjudication records that might help Amendola attack the credibility of any witness the state plans to call at trial. Although Amendola had argued that several accusers used drugs and alcohol as juveniles, which might affect their recollections of events, Cleland’s order says the state doesn’t have to turn those over. Prosecutors do, however, have to turn over psychological evaluations of the accusers, but can’t use any information in them without prior approval from the court. Sandusky is accused of sexual...

Jerry Sandusky’s defense team wants criminal records and records of mental health evaluations of the former Penn State assistant football coach’s accusers in his child sex abuse case. Lawyer Joe Amendola says the documents could help show that Sandusky was set up by the alleged victims. In his latest filing in Centre County Court, Amendola also says some of the accusations could be flawed because some of the 10 alleged victims used drugs and alcohol when they were juveniles and that may have affected their recollections. Prosecutors have maintained that releasing the records would violate juvenile privacy laws. Sandusky is facing 52 criminal charges for sexually abusing 10 boys over a 15-year period. He denies the allegations. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Judge John Cleland says a request by Jerry Sandusky’s defense team for more information from the attorney general’s office in his child sex abuse case is moot because prosecutors have said they can’t produce more information. Sandusky’s lawyers argued on Monday that they need more information on when and where the alleged crimes took place so they can present a defense. Prosecutors did turn over information a couple of weeks ago but Sandusky lawyer Joe Amendola said it wasn’t specific enough. Also today, Cleand issued a two-paragraph order saying the names of people identified in grand jury reports as victims 1 through 10 remain under seal "and may not be disclosed by any person, except pursuant to court order" or other judicial authorization. Jury selection in the trial is scheduled for May 14. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Lawyers in the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse case will be in court next week to present arguments on how much information prosecutors should have to turn over to the defense before the trial. Judge John Cleland scheduled the hearing for Monday in Centre County. Sandusky’s lawyer Joe Amendola says he wants the attorney general's office to provide more details about the allegations to help him prepare possible defenses. Prosecutors said they’ve turned over as much information as they can. The 68-year-old former Penn State assistant football coach denies allegations that he sexually abused 10 boys over a 15-year period. Cleland has scheduled jury selection in the trial for May 14. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Jerry Sandusky's lawyer Monday asked Judge John Cleland to delay the start of his child sex abuse trial until mid-July because he needs more time to prepare. Joe Amendola said the additional two months would help him contact and interview witnesses, subpoena records and hire experts. Earlier Cleland tentatively scheduled jury selection to begin May 14. The 68-year-old former Penn State assistant football coach faces 52 criminal charges related to the sexual abuse of 10 boys over a 15-year period. Sandusky denies the allegations. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Judge John Cleland says Jerry Sandusky can see some of his grandchildren while he awaits trial on child sex abuse charges, and that the jury for that trial can be chosen from Centre County. Cleland ruled this morning on the motions that were argued Friday. He ruled that Sandusky can see all but three of his 11 grandchildren, but only when they are supervised by the childrens’ parents. The three he can’t see are the subject of custody litigation. Prosecutors had sought to have Sandusky confined to his home after hearing complaints from neighbors that he was standing on his back porch watching children from a nearby elementary school, but Cleland denied that request. The attorney general's office also wanted an out-of-county jury for trial. In his ruling Cleland said selecting a jury from Centre County will present its challenges. He added that, if after a reasonable attempt to pick a local jury is unsuccessful, he will reconsider his ruling. Sandusky is accused of abusing 10 boys ov...