NBC interview could enter Sandusky trial

• Tweet

BELLEFONT, Pa., June 18 (UPI) -- Prosecutors may try to use an interview former Penn State assistant coach Jerry Sandusky gave to NBC as evidence in his sexual abuse trial, NBC reported Monday.

Sandusky gave the interview to Bob Costas in November, and Pennsylvania prosecutors may seek to introduce parts of the interview that were not aired, including a comment in which Sandusky said, "I didn't go around seeking out every young person for sexual needs that I've helped."

Sandusky has pleaded innocent to repeatedly sexually abusing 10 boys during a period of 15 years.

The prosecution rested Monday and the Sandusky's lawyers began presenting their defense, with witnesses attesting to Sandusky's character and reputation.

MSNBC said Monday a prosecutor contacted a lawyer for NBC News Friday asking the network to re-authenticate a raw transcript of Sandusky's interview with Costas, and the network agreed because they transcript had already been made public. In the interview, Sandusky said he is "very passionate" about trying to make a difference in young people's lives.

"I worked very hard to try to connect with them. To make them feel good about themselves. To be something significant in their lives. Maybe this gets misinterpreted, has gotten depending on. … I know a lot of young people where it hasn't."

"But isn't what you're just describing the classic MO of many pedophiles?" Costas said. "And that is that they gain the trust of young people, they don't necessarily abuse every young person."

"Well -- you might think that," Sandusky said.

"And I didn't go around seeking out every young person for sexual needs that I've helped," he said. "There are many that I didn't have -- I hardly had any contact with who I have helped in many, many ways."