Sandusky son: I was a victim, too

BELLEFONTE, Pa., June 21 (UPI) -- An adopted son of Jerry Sandusky told prosecutors he would have testified at the former Penn State coach's trial that Sandusky molested him, his attorney said.

Andrew Shubin, attorney for Matt Sandusky, 33, said his client, who was adopted by Jerry and Dottie Sandusky as an adult after living with them as a foster child, was prepared to testify if called by prosecutors, the (Harrisburg) Patriot-News reported Thursday.

"This has been an extremely painful experience for Matt and he has asked us to convey his request that the media respect his privacy. There will be no further comment," Shubin said in a statement.

Speculation on whether Jerry Sandusky would take the stand in his defense came to an end Thursday when his attorneys rested their case after an extended closed session with Judge John M. Cleland.

The jury Thursday began weighing the charges against the former Penn State assistant football coach, whose lawyer described him as a victim.

In closing arguments, defense lawyer Joe Amendola said Jerry Sandusky is a victim of overzealous investigators and mercenary witnesses. Prosecutor Joseph McGettigan, on the other hand, said witnesses showed Jerry Sandusky is a victimizer who molested young boys.

Jurors began deliberation in the early afternoon, The Washington Post reported. Before closing arguments began, Cleland dismissed three counts, leaving the jury with 48 charges to consider.

Amendola, during his 74-minute closing, told the jury Jerry Sandusky's "life is at stake" in the trial, the Centre Daily Times in State College reported. Amendola suggested many of the men who said Jerry Sandusky molested them as boys came up with their stories under lengthy police questioning and read from one interview where an officer told a witness he was "not alone."

"I submit to you they're going to get him hell or high water even if they have to coach witnesses," Amendola said.

Amendola said some of the accusers are hoping to make money by filing lawsuits.

McGettigan said Amendola had come up with a conspiracy theory, the Post said. He said witnesses had presented credible evidence of years of assaults by Jerry Sandusky.

"You saw the full spectrum of predatory pedophile behavior," McGettigan added.

Cleland dismissed two charges involving victim No. 4 that he said weren't supported by testimony and another that was a duplicate charge, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

The judge told the seven women and five men on the jury if they believe the testimony of the eight accusers, that would be enough for a guilty verdict without any corroborating evidence, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported. Cleland told the jury "it is not necessarily a crime for an adult to touch a child" and that "poor judgment does not of and in itself rise to criminal conduct."

Jurors heard seven days of testimony from 50 witnesses.