Jerry Sandusky
/ file photo
BELLEFONTE, PA (AP) -- Jerry Sandusky has been sentenced to at least 30 years in prison in the child sexual abuse scandal that brought shame to Penn State and led to coach Joe Paterno's downfall.
The sentence means the 68-year-old former Penn State assistant coach will be in prison at least until he's nearly 100 years old.
A defiant Sandusky this morning gave a rambling statement denying the allegations and saying he is not a monster. He plans to appeal, a process his lawyer has said will probably begin in the coming weeks.
Three victims also spoke, often fighting back tears. One looked the 68-year-old Sandusky in the eyes at times.
Among the three who spoke was a young man who said he was 11 when Sandusky groped him in a shower in 1998. He said Sandusky is in denial and should "stop coming up with excuses." Another said that he was still troubled with flashbacks of his abuse in 2001.
On Monday, Sandusky said he was innocent and vowed to keep fighting in a recorded statement broadcast by a student-run radio station at Penn State. In it, Sandusky says that in his heart, he knows he didn't do what he calls "these alleged disgusting acts." He says he's the victim of Penn State, investigators, civil attorneys, the media and others.
Judge John Cleland issued the sentence Tuesday, three months after a jury convicted Sandusky on 45 counts of child sexual abuse.
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