Have we discussed the Sandusky trial?

[mrshandy]

Seems pretty open and shut, thankfully. What a bastard.

We'll see what BS the defense pulls out.

I wonder how many years he'll get. Probably not enough.

[marie427]

I'm so disturbed by the victims' testimonies. Broke my heart when one of them said he had never told his story to anyone at all during these years until just recently when he had to talk to the prosecutor. He didn't expect anyone to believe him, so his mother just kept encouraging him to hang out with Sandusky thinking her son enjoyed having him around as a role model. And because he was too ashamed to tell even his mother what was going in, he kept hanging out with Sandusky.

[IIOY]

Reporters' and legal analysts' impressions of trials are notoriously rotten predictors of outcome, but from what I am reading, so far the prosecution witnesses have been incredibly effective. It's painful to read what they've said. I can't begin to imagine the emotional fallout for these victims.

[Deleted]

I haven't been following it that closely considering how much I followed the story after the grand jury report came out, because I find it so incredibly depressing. I hope justice is served in this case.

[Deleted]

But he has histrionic personality disorder, people. Surely you can see how that would turn one into a child molestor who preys on the community and the very people who worship him, yes?

Oh you can't?

Well . . .

[bte4242]

It broke my heart when one of the victims said that he loved Sandusky and was upset when he (Sandusky) wouldn't hang out with him anymore.

I mean, how messed up is that?

[EloiseWeenie]

I've only read one article about one man's testimony. It broke my heart. He said that all the kids at school teased him for being Sandusky's butt buddy, and he was terrified to tell anyone for fear the teasing would be worse.

I saw a blurb on the CBS news last night as I was making dinner, and I liked how CBS blurred out the faces of the victims and didn't mention their names.

[marissa]

I'm following this closely since this is more "local" news for me. I grew up in Clinton County which is right next to Center where Penn State is. I grew up going to games, etc and my dad is on the school board of the district where he volunteered at and some of the stuff went down. This guy is guilty period!

[EloiseWeenie]

Jun 15, 2012 11:44:46 GMT -5 marissa said:

I'm following this closely since this is more "local" news for me. I grew up in Clinton County which is right next to Center where Penn State is. I grew up going to games, etc and my dad is on the school board of the district where he volunteered at and some of the stuff went down. This guy is guilty period!

I've been meaning to ask you if it has always been common knowledge that he was molesting boys? Do you know why nobody did anything for so long?

[zelda25]

I've only followed the trial in the sense that I catch snippets of trial coverag on Today when I'm getting dressed in the morning. Did I hear that the prosecution entered that Bob Costas interview into evidence? Even without the victim testimony, that interview is pretty damning:

"Are you sexually attracted to young boys?"
"Well, uhhh...let me think about that...uhhh...no?"

Yeah, I know Sandusky didn't actually say that, but...he kind did.

[copzgirl1171]

I am really scared he will walk.

[EloiseWeenie]

I hope Mike McQueary learned something from the man in Texas on what to do when you walk in on a child being molested.

[dev22]

Jun 15, 2012 14:18:00 GMT -5 EloiseWeenie said:

I hope Mike McQueary learned something from the man in Texas on what to do when you walk in on a child being molested.

That is one of the first things I thought about when I heard about the dad killing the guy. THAT is how you respond to witnessing a child getting molested. I mean, you don't have to KILL them, but fuck no you don't just walk away.

[pescalita]

Jun 15, 2012 14:18:00 GMT -5 EloiseWeenie said:

I hope Mike McQueary learned something from the man in Texas on what to do when you walk in on a child being molested.

I thought it was interesting we finally learned how he "made sure it stopped". He slammed a locker and left. Way to go.

[EloiseWeenie]

Jun 15, 2012 20:04:54 GMT -5 pescalita said:

Jun 15, 2012 14:18:00 GMT -5 EloiseWeenie said:

I hope Mike McQueary learned something from the man in Texas on what to do when you walk in on a child being molested.

I thought it was interesting we finally learned how he "made sure it stopped". He slammed a locker and left. Way to go.

I'm curious if he could have a do-over, if he would have actually physically stopped it. That is a regret I would never want to live with.

[gpw]

I have not been able to watch much trial coverage. Hearing some of the testimony truly makes me sick to my stomach. Especially when I see him looking so smarmy...or smug, I don't know what the look on his face is, but it makes me want to junk punch him. I just can't take it, so I've kinda been avoiding it.

[StrawberryBlondie]

Jun 15, 2012 21:31:19 GMT -5 gpw said:

I have not been able to watch much trial coverage. Hearing some of the testimony truly makes me sick to my stomach. Especially when I see him looking so smarmy...or smug, I don't know what the look on his face is, but it makes me want to junk punch him. I just can't take it, so I've kinda been avoiding it.

This is exactly where I'm at.

[Deleted]

Jun 15, 2012 10:56:06 GMT -5 @habbsies said:

But he has histrionic personality disorder, people. Surely you can see how that would turn one into a child molestor who preys on the community and the very people who worship him, yes?

Oh you can't?

Well . . .

I'm pretty sure my dad has a personality disorder--that makes him an asshole, not a child molester.

[pagal]

Jun 15, 2012 11:06:59 GMT -5 EloiseWeenie said:

I've only read one article about one man's testimony. It broke my heart. He said that all the kids at school teased him for being Sandusky's butt buddy, and he was terrified to tell anyone for fear the teasing would be worse.

I saw a blurb on the CBS news last night as I was making dinner, and I liked how CBS blurred out the faces of the victims and didn't mention their names.

DH was among the group of kids who used to tease him. It's sad to hear now, but the boys were just being boys and had no idea that they were teasing him about was actually true.

[ttt]

Jun 15, 2012 14:13:58 GMT -5 zelda25 said:

I've only followed the trial in the sense that I catch snippets of trial coverag on Today when I'm getting dressed in the morning. Did I hear that the prosecution entered that Bob Costas interview into evidence? Even without the victim testimony, that interview is pretty damning:

"Are you sexually attracted to young boys?"
"Well, uhhh...let me think about that...uhhh...no?"

Yeah, I know Sandusky didn't actually say that, but...he kind did.

Yeah, if you can't answer that question with a firm and immediate "no", preferably accompanied by an expression of horror, you have a serious problem. Like, that you are a pedophile.

[gpw]

Jun 16, 2012 11:27:33 GMT -5 pagal said:

Jun 15, 2012 11:06:59 GMT -5 EloiseWeenie said:

I've only read one article about one man's testimony. It broke my heart. He said that all the kids at school teased him for being Sandusky's butt buddy, and he was terrified to tell anyone for fear the teasing would be worse.

I saw a blurb on the CBS news last night as I was making dinner, and I liked how CBS blurred out the faces of the victims and didn't mention their names.

DH was among the group of kids who used to tease him. It's sad to hear now, but the boys were just being boys and had no idea that they were teasing him about was actually true.

:-|

[ttt]

Jun 16, 2012 11:27:33 GMT -5 pagal said:

Jun 15, 2012 11:06:59 GMT -5 EloiseWeenie said:

I've only read one article about one man's testimony. It broke my heart. He said that all the kids at school teased him for being Sandusky's butt buddy, and he was terrified to tell anyone for fear the teasing would be worse.

I saw a blurb on the CBS news last night as I was making dinner, and I liked how CBS blurred out the faces of the victims and didn't mention their names.

DH was among the group of kids who used to tease him. It's sad to hear now, but the boys were just being boys and had no idea that they were teasing him about was actually true.

Well as long as they were just boys being boys I guess it's not really important that they helped make his life a living hell.

[EloiseWeenie]

Jun 16, 2012 11:27:33 GMT -5 pagal said:

Jun 15, 2012 11:06:59 GMT -5 EloiseWeenie said:

I've only read one article about one man's testimony. It broke my heart. He said that all the kids at school teased him for being Sandusky's butt buddy, and he was terrified to tell anyone for fear the teasing would be worse.

I saw a blurb on the CBS news last night as I was making dinner, and I liked how CBS blurred out the faces of the victims and didn't mention their names.

DH was among the group of kids who used to tease him. It's sad to hear now, but the boys were just being boys and had no idea that they were teasing him about was actually true.

Has your husband apologized to the victim? Now that he knows what was going on, I hope he has decided to be a man (or just decent).

[marissa]

Jun 15, 2012 14:03:20 GMT -5 EloiseWeenie said:

Jun 15, 2012 11:44:46 GMT -5 marissa said:

I'm following this closely since this is more "local" news for me. I grew up in Clinton County which is right next to Center where Penn State is. I grew up going to games, etc and my dad is on the school board of the district where he volunteered at and some of the stuff went down. This guy is guilty period!

I've been meaning to ask you if it has always been common knowledge that he was molesting boys? Do you know why nobody did anything for so long?

From what I understand, the school board didn't know he was. Someone I went to high school with witnessed him at a high school molesting one of the victims and pulled him off and called the police right then and there. Now they require all people to volunteer to have finger prints and background checks. They only had required this of those who were in paid positions.

Paterno had heard from McQueary and Paterno went to Spanier who didn't turn it over to the state police. Paterno banned Sandusky from anything football related but the board of trustees allowed him anyway.
Gov. Corbett knew as early as the late 90's but didnt' say anything because he was wanting to run for political office and wanted the money from the Second Mile supporters. There was another person who knew but is now missing. The DA who investigated this in the late 90's is missing but they believe he is in witness protection as he was also involved in some "big" drug case in the area.

[ttt]

Jun 16, 2012 21:01:29 GMT -5 marissa said:

Jun 15, 2012 14:03:20 GMT -5 EloiseWeenie said:

I've been meaning to ask you if it has always been common knowledge that he was molesting boys? Do you know why nobody did anything for so long?

From what I understand, the school board didn't know he was. Someone I went to high school with witnessed him at a high school molesting one of the victims and pulled him off and called the police right then and there. Now they require all people to volunteer to have finger prints and background checks. They only had required this of those who were in paid positions.

But Sandusky had no record, did he? He had never been convicted of sex abuse (or charged?), so that wouldn't have made a difference, would it?

This is why background checks can give a false sense of security. Just because someone doesn't have a record doesn't mean they haven't done anything bad - it only means they haven't been caught at it.

[marissa]

Jun 16, 2012 21:03:40 GMT -5 ttt said:

Jun 16, 2012 21:01:29 GMT -5 marissa said:

From what I understand, the school board didn't know he was. Someone I went to high school with witnessed him at a high school molesting one of the victims and pulled him off and called the police right then and there. Now they require all people to volunteer to have finger prints and background checks. They only had required this of those who were in paid positions.

But Sandusky had no record, did he? He had never been convicted of sex abuse (or charged?), so that wouldn't have made a difference, would it?

This is why background checks can give a false sense of security. Just because someone doesn't have a record doesn't mean they haven't done anything bad - it only means they haven't been caught at it.

He had a few CPS calls from what I understand. This is part of a standard background check in NJ so I'd assume it is in PA. I do agree with you though.

As far as McQueary, he was worried about his job and went to his daddy who is a doctor at a local hospital. He didn't want to say anything because he thought it would make him not be able to get a job. It took him around a day before he went to Paterno before he told him what happened. Most from the area now despise McQueary. What burns me more is the response to his players he oversaw when they asked about his well being the game he wasn't present for "for his safety". He replied with something like "I'm somewhere double fisting it" not "Gee, I really fucked up."

[EloiseWeenie]

What a cluster. Did the investigation start after your friend called the police? I had no idea about Gov Corbett. So Sandusky got away with raping boys for so many years because of his money?

[marissa]

Jun 16, 2012 21:20:24 GMT -5 EloiseWeenie said:

What a cluster. Did the investigation start after your friend called the police? I had no idea about Gov Corbett. So Sandusky got away with raping boys for so many years because of his money?

Yes. His call sparked the entire investigation. He wrestled when we were in high school and volunteered at the local high school. He forgot his wrestling shoes in the locker room and when he went back he saw Sandusky on top of a kid in the gym.

As far as him getting away with it, I'm assuming so.

I know most will not agree with me about Paterno's involvement but although I believe HE should have gone to the police himself he did what he was supposed to in his contract. I have had to report sexual abuse as a teacher and I had to go up a chain of command with it. The person I reported it to make the call with me in the room. IMO, this is the way it should be done. This is why Spanier is also on trial. He didn't report it to the police as he should have. What is bothersome is that the Gov. was elected knowing he knew all of this and let Patenro be the fall guy. HE knew before Paterno did and did nothing.

[EloiseWeenie]

:-( that is beyond disturbing. I'm happy your friend stopped it, too bad he didn't beat Sandusky to death.

[laurenpetro]

Did your friend testify?