Former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky leaves the Centre County Courthouse after the fourth day of his child sex abuse trial on June 14, 2012, in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania. Sandusky is charged with 52 criminal counts of alleged sexual abuse of children.
(June 13, 2012 – Source: Jeff Swensen/Getty Images North America)
(PhatzRadio / Yahoo! Sports) — Jerry Sandusky’s adopted son, Matt Sandusky, said that his father abused him. Matt Sandusky released a statement through his lawyers, Andrew Shubin and Justine Andronici. According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, Mr. Shubin also represents two other alleged victims of Jerry Sandusky.
The statement reads: “During the trial, Matt Sandusky contacted us and requested our advice and assistance in arranging a meeting with prosecutors to disclose for the first time in this case that he is a victim of Jerry Sandusky’s abuse. At Matt’s request, we immediately arranged a meeting between him and the prosecutors and investigators.”
The statement continued: “This has been an extremely painful experience for Matt and he has asked us to convey his request that the media respect his privacy.”
According to NBC News, Matt Sandusky was prepared to take the witness stand against his father. NBC News reports that Jerry Sandusky decided against testifying on his own behalf after the defense got word that the prosecution had plans to call a surprise witness, Matt Sandusky. It is unclear why Matt Sandusky was not called to the stand.
The AP reports that following Jerry Sandusky’s arrest in November, 2011, Jill Jones, the ex-wife of Matt Sandusky, went to the police to obtain a restraining order to keep her former father-in-law from hosting sleep-overs with Jill and Matt’s three young children.
The AP also reports that Matt Sandusky attempted suicide back in 1995, several months after he went to live with the Sanduskys.
When Victim 4 testified, he said that Matt became visibly nervous when Jerry Sandusky tried to engage in a “soap battle” with the boys in the shower. Victim 4 testified that Matt Sandusky shut off his shower and went to another locker room.
Matt Sandusky’s biological mother, Debra Long, testified before a grand jury Matt was upset about staying with Sandusky.
In the past, Matt Sandusky has defended his father over allegations that he abused young boys. Jerry Sandusky is on trial for multiple charges of child abuse. The jury, which is sequestered, is currently deliberating.
From combined staff and wire reports.
