Judge: Sandusky can see grandchildren

BELLEFONTE, Pa., Feb. 13 (UPI) -- Jerry Sandusky, the ex-Penn State assistant football coach charged with child sex abuse, can have contact with most of his grandchildren, a judge ruled Monday.

Judge John M. Cleland also said a local jury will hear the case against Sandusky, who is under electronic monitoring while on house arrest, when he goes to trial in May.

Sandusky denies allegations he systematically abused children for years, using his Second Mile charity to target potential victims. He faces 52 counts of felony and misdemeanor counts.

Cleland also ruled prosecutors must turn over the time, date and location of any alleged offense, along with the exact age of each victim at the time.

The judge denied a defense motion that prosecutors detail the particular acts alleged against the ex-coach.

Prosecutors had wanted Sandusky prevented from visiting with any of his grandchildren, or with other adults. But the judge rejected their motion, except for three grandchildren at the center of a child-custody battle. The judge said one of the grandchildren's parents must be present during visitations.

Sandusky can also have adult visitors, with certain conditions attached, and can leave his home, with advance notice, to assist his lawyers in trial preparations.

Prosecutors also failed, for now, in their attempt to have Sandusky's trial jury selected from outside the Centre County area. But Cleland wrote that "if, after a reasonable attempt it is apparent that a jury cannot be selected within a reasonable time, then I will reconsider this ruling."

Sandusky's attorneys failed to convince the judge to force prosecutors to disclose the names, addresses and dates of birth of witnesses, or to obtain an early release of grand jury testimony.