A stunning move by the defense in the Penn State sex abuse scandal. Former football coach Jerry Sandusky waived his right to a preliminary hearing yesterday, avoiding a dramatic confrontation with his accusers.
This morning on American Morning, Sandusky's attorney Joe Amendola talks with Carol Costello who explains why the decision was made and why it was a surprise.
"We got a major concession on Monday night that which we didn't have prior to Monday night from the Commonwealth not to seek a bail increase pending trial. That was a major concession for us, to keep Jerry Sandusky out on bail so that he can work with his defense team in preparing his defense," Amendola says. "We did not have that until about 9:30 or 10:00 on Monday night. That's the reason we waited until the last minute to waive the hearing. We did not have that concession prior to late monday evening."
The preliminary hearing against Jerry Sandusky is scheduled to occur Tuesday after two new victims came forward last week and questions continue to circulate about the consistency of Mike McQueary's statements.
Sandusky's wife, Dottie, was pulled into a claim about the alleged abuse last week after one victim claimed he cried for help from the basement. A grand jury report says her husband assaulted a boy in the couple's basement, while she was upstairs.
Today on American Morning, Paul Callan, CNN legal contributor, discusses whether or not Dottie Sandusky could get charged with any crimes and explains the likelihood that she will be forced to testify against her husband.
Penn State assistant football coach Mike McQueary's statements about former coach Jerry Sandusky and a boy in a Penn State shower are certain to be discussed in a preliminary hearing against the former coach tomorrow after another version of McQueary's story surfaced during testimony before the grand jury.
Dr. Jonathan Dranov, a family friend and colleague of McQueary's father, was one of the first people that McQueary spoke to in 2002. A source with knowledge of Dranov's testimony says that Dravnov's story is a different account from the hand-written statement that McQueary provided for investigators when he was interviewed in 2010.
Sara Ganim, CNN contributor and crime reporter for The Patriot-News, explains the inconsistencies in McQueary's stories and weighs in on how they may affect Sandusky's case on American Morning today.
Former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky remained in jail early Thursday morning on additional child sex charges involving two more alleged victims, bringing the total to 10 victims. Sandusky was arrested Wednesday and charged with four counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and two counts of unlawful contact with a minor, allegedly involving two men who were boys at the time of the encounters. Sandusky, who maintains his innocence, will face a preliminary hearing at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday.
Carol Costello sits down with Paul Callan who assess the strength of the prosecution's case.
Jerry Sandusky, the former Penn State assistant football coach accused of sexual abuse, is working with a private investigator in his quest to prove his innocence, his lawyer said Monday. Attorney Joe Amendola said his client, who is free on $100,000 bail, is conducting his own investigation. Sandusky is charged with 40 counts related to the alleged sexual abuse of eight young boys.
At the same time, the wife of former Syracuse basketball coach Bernie Fine plans to make a statement today regarding the validity of a taped conversation she reportedly had with one of her husband's accusers. The taped conversation suggests she knew about Fine's alleged abuse.
Christine Romans and Carol Costello sit down with CNN legal contributor Paul Callan to discuss the legal challenges in each case.
Authorities in Pennsylvania are investigating two new cases of alleged child abuse against former Penn State coach Jerry Sandusky. These are the first known cases to be reported since Sandusky's arrest and involve current underage victims.
Sara Ganim, crime reporter for "The Patriot News" and CNN contributor, discusses the latest allegations this morning on American Morning.