Sandusky Denies Child Sex Abuse, Blames Accusers

Jerry Sandusky Blames His Victims for Setting Him Up (The Atlantic Wire)

Hours before he is to be sentenced for his child sexual abuse conviction, former Penn State coach Jerry Sandusky has released a bizarre jailhouse audio tape where he professes his innocence and blames his victims for orchestrating a conspiracy against him. Sandusky continues to insist that he did not do any of the "disgusting acts" that he was convicted of, including multiple instances of assault and rape against several young boys, many of whom he met through a charity the he founded. Sandusky released the tape and a written statment to Penn State's student radio station on Monday night.

Sandusky states that he is the victim of a "well-orchestrated effort of the media, investigators, the system, Penn State, psychologists, civil attorneys" to set him up and frame him for the crimes. In particular, he blames the boys who leveled the accusations against him of seeking "information, attention and potential perks." He even denigrates them, calling one victim "a veteran accuser [who] always sought attention" and saying the only reason these kids joined his Second Mile children's charity in the first place is "because of issues."

Sandusky reportedly decide to release the tape because he was told that he would be allowed to make a statement at his sentencing hearing on Tuesday, but would not be allowed to criticize the judicial process, until after he appeals the verdict. He repeatedly says in his statement that he was not given enough time to prepare for trial. Sandusky was convicted on 45 counts of child sexual abuse and given his age and potential sentence (which could be as high as 400 years) he will likely spend the rest of his life in prison.