HARRISBURG, Pa., Oct. 2 (UPI) -- A Pennsylvania court Wednesday upheld the sexual abuse convictions and sentence of former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky.
In a 19-page ruling, a three-judge Superior Court panel affirmed Sandusky's 30-year prison sentence and his convictions on 45 counts, the Patriot News in Harrisburg reported.
In arguments before the court last month, Sandusky attorney Norris Gelman said the defense had been given insufficient time to prepare for the June 2012 trial. Gelman contended trial judge John M. Cleland had made mistakes in presenting the charge to jurors.
The 69-year-old Sandusky still has other options for appeal, including ineffective counsel.
Separately, a judge in Centre County, where Penn State is located, gave former Penn State President Graham Spanier 20 days to file a defamation lawsuit against former FBI Director Louis Freeh, the Centre County Times in State College reported.
Freeh wrote a report for university trustees concluding Spanier and other Penn State administrators covered up abuse allegations against Sandusky.
Spanier has filed papers with the court indicating his intent to sue Freeh. Freeh's attorneys asked the court Monday to force Spanier to file the suit or have the court throw it out.
Spanier faces a number of criminal charges, including obstruction of justice, perjury, child endangerment and failure to report abuse.
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