# Is there any chance that Sandusky is found not guilty? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [June 15, 2012, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-chance-that-sandusky-is-found-not-guilty/625190 "2012-06-15T01:10:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2012, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-chance-that-sandusky-is-found-not-guilty/625190/141 "2012-06-21T17:37:24Z")
> [@jtgain](#): > > What are the odds that the jury gets the case tomorrow, finds him guilty in less than an hour, and Sandusky is locked up tomorrow making tonight his last night of freedom? They’d still have to schedule a separate hearing for sentencing, wouldn’t they? And that’s why I think the Histrionic thing was brought up. I think that most of whatt he defense did was in trying to find some basis uponwhihc to argue for a lighter sentence. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2012, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-chance-that-sandusky-is-found-not-guilty/625190/142 "2012-06-21T18:08:39Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > They’d still have to schedule a separate hearing for sentencing, wouldn’t they? Yes but he’d probably go directly to jail to await sentencing. ---
**Author:** ![Gskala01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@Gskala01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gskala01)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2012, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-chance-that-sandusky-is-found-not-guilty/625190/143 "2012-06-21T18:41:17Z")
Sandusky was a great defensive coordinator. Imagine the diagrams he presented to his defense attorneys! Another reason why I think he’ll be found Not Guilty. ---
**Author:** ![MLS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MLS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MLS)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2012, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-chance-that-sandusky-is-found-not-guilty/625190/144 "2012-06-21T18:47:56Z")
> [@Margo\_Wilson](#): > > I wonder if Amendola purposefully made the public think Sandusky would testify, then the last minute motions were staged to make him look like an innocent man who desperately wanted to tell his story and was advised not to. Could be a plan to make him look innocent…with > that being said I think it is very possible Sandusky walks, IF the newspaper accounts are true-they did cast doubt on McCreary’s story, and the 2 policemen. > > I just pray if he is found innocent that those boys find strength in the fact that they faced him and told their stories. It is just too hard to believe that that many boys would lie, and McCreary along with the janitors story are just too compelling. I read a [news report](http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/06/21/12337229-sources-adopted-son-as-possible-witness-helped-keep-sandusky-silent) saying: > [@](#): > > Jerry Sandusky decided not to testify in his child sex abuse trial after his lawyers were warned that prosecutors would call a surprise new witness — one of the defendant’s own adopted sons — who was prepared to deliver damaging testimony about his father, sources tell NBC News. > [@](#): > > During a court recess in the morning, Sandusky’s lawyers motioned Sandusky to enter a side room for a conference. They then joined prosecutors for a second conference behind closed doors meeting in Judge John Cleland’s chambers. About 30 minutes later, Sandusky re-entered the courtroom, looking somber and chastened. At that point, Sandusky’s lawyer rose and announced, “The defense rests.” ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2012, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-chance-that-sandusky-is-found-not-guilty/625190/145 "2012-06-21T18:52:42Z")
He should have said, “The defense is fucked.” ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2012, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-chance-that-sandusky-is-found-not-guilty/625190/146 "2012-06-21T18:53:39Z")
> [@Gskala01](#): > > Another reason why I think he’ll be found Not Guilty. If you can’t add anything to this thread except non-sequiturs, you should probably take your comedy routine to another thread. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2012, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-chance-that-sandusky-is-found-not-guilty/625190/147 "2012-06-21T19:17:24Z")
I read in the news that three counts have been dropped (victim 2). I’m thinking he’s not going to be convicted on all the remaining counts, either. I think it’s possible some doubt may have been created wrt the conflicting testimonies and lying cop(s). I’m not sure this will affect all the counts, though, unless there’s a heck of a domino effect. I wonder if some of this stuff and his joke of a defense lawyer might get it declared a mistrial or something. IANAL, so I’m pretty ignorant of how that works. All it takes is one unconvinced juror, right? Or is that my TV-based assumption? ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2012, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-chance-that-sandusky-is-found-not-guilty/625190/148 "2012-06-21T19:25:16Z")
Any guilty verdict on a given count must be unanimous. The three new dropped counts were for technical reasons. In one case two of the counts were really about the same act so they dropped one of them. In the others, what was alleged to have happened technically didn’t meet the exact criteria for the crime. They may deadlock on a few of the counts but I can’t see how they don’t find him guilty on some of them. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2012, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-chance-that-sandusky-is-found-not-guilty/625190/149 "2012-06-21T19:36:45Z")
That’s what I’m thinking, as well ; but some of the other stuff is making me scratch my head, that may just be due to media babble. ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2012, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-chance-that-sandusky-is-found-not-guilty/625190/150 "2012-06-21T20:13:41Z")
> [@An\_Arky](#): > > I read in the news that three counts have been dropped (victim 2). I’m thinking he’s not going to be convicted on all the remaining counts, either. I think it’s possible some doubt may have been created wrt the conflicting testimonies and lying cop(s). I’m not sure this will affect all the counts, though, unless there’s a heck of a domino effect. Hold the phone…does that mean the boy _wasn’t_ being anally raped in the shower, contrary to what McQueary said he witnessed??? If that’s the case, then I could see a potential for problems, since all the other victims came forward after that initial incident was publicized. Granted, I haven’t followed this story closely enough to make any informed judgment, but that’s basically the same reason why the infamous McMartin trial ended in acquittal/mistrial. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2012, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-chance-that-sandusky-is-found-not-guilty/625190/151 "2012-06-21T20:23:13Z")
> [@buddha\_david](#): > > Hold the phone…does that mean the boy _wasn’t_ being anally raped in the shower, contrary to what McQueary said he witnessed??? No, the McQueary thing was related to victim 2. The dropped charges had to do with victim 4. (Prosecutors couldn’t find either of them.) One charge was dropped because of duplication and the others were because witness testimony didn’t support them. As I understand it the witness didn’t say specifically that he saw _sex_, so there wasn’t enough evidence to sustain the charge. ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2012, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-chance-that-sandusky-is-found-not-guilty/625190/152 "2012-06-21T20:34:51Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > No, the McQueary thing was related to victim 2. The dropped charges had to do with victim 4. Okay, gotcha. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2012, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-chance-that-sandusky-is-found-not-guilty/625190/153 "2012-06-21T21:20:56Z")
He doesn’t have to be found guilty of very many charges to be put away for the rest of his life. I had an acquaintance of about 30 years of age who was convicted of a handful of charges related to seducing and raping a one young boy and he was given over 125 years in prison (he had to serve all the time for the various charges consecutively). Obviously the penalty from state to state can be different, but Sandusky is an old man. Even one or two convictions will probably mean he’ll never step outside prison again. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2012, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-chance-that-sandusky-is-found-not-guilty/625190/154 "2012-06-21T21:32:47Z")
If you turn on any TV right about now I expect you’ll hear that one of Sandusky’s adopted sons now says he was molested. I think there were rumors before the trial about a family member who might’ve been abused, although I think that was someone different. So maybe there will be more charges in the unlikely event of an acquittal. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2012, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-chance-that-sandusky-is-found-not-guilty/625190/155 "2012-06-21T22:33:47Z")
Highly doubt he’s acquitted, but if he is, expect the State of Texas to go after him for the abuse that took place in San Antonio at Penn State’s appearance at the Alamo Bowl. ---
**Author:** ![Fotheringay-Phipps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d9b06d/32.png) [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2012, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-chance-that-sandusky-is-found-not-guilty/625190/156 "2012-06-21T23:01:32Z")
> [@jtgain](#): > > I’m wondering if the jury might take longer just to parse the counts. For example, (and I’m making up the numbers) maybe some jurors will believe victims 3, 4, and 7, but find that victim 2 really did look like he was out for a buck and find reasonable doubt on him. I agree with this. It’s one of the conundrums of child abuse that the same types of kids who are most likely to actually be abused are also the same types of kids who are likely to make up stories of abuse. If you deal with an enormous number of troubled kids it’s likely you’ll encounter a few of the latter. So I think Sandusky is guilty, but that doesn’t mean that every accuser is saying the truth. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2012, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-chance-that-sandusky-is-found-not-guilty/625190/157 "2012-06-21T23:55:31Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > No, the McQueary thing was related to victim 2. The dropped charges had to do with victim 4. (Prosecutors couldn’t find either of them.) One charge was dropped because of duplication and the others were because witness testimony didn’t support them. As I understand it the witness didn’t say specifically that he saw _sex_, so there wasn’t enough evidence to sustain the charge. Oops, my bad. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2012, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-chance-that-sandusky-is-found-not-guilty/625190/158 "2012-06-22T01:53:47Z")
I don’t have a link, but did anyone see the judges instructions? They were very defense friendly. For example, he stressed that bathing, rubbing soap on bodies, etc. was NOT illegal and that the jury was not to convict on that. I’m wondering if with that kind of instruction there won’t be one juror to hang the whole thing… ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2012, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-chance-that-sandusky-is-found-not-guilty/625190/159 "2012-06-22T02:46:03Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > If you turn on any TV right about now I expect you’ll hear that one of Sandusky’s adopted sons now says he was molested. I think there were rumors before the trial about a family member who might’ve been abused, although I think that was someone different. So maybe there will be more charges in the unlikely event of an acquittal. Or even in the likely event of a conviction. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2012, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-chance-that-sandusky-is-found-not-guilty/625190/160 "2012-06-22T04:14:46Z")
I also find it a bit insulting to the victims that the defense would somehow insinuate that they hired attorneys in order to file a civil suit against Sandusky. Sure I guess that normally financial gain could be a reason to lie about someone, but I know that at 18 or even 28 I wouldn’t have lied about being anal raped by an old dude to get a couple hundred grand. And I personally think that the victims have every right to seek financial compensation for the trauma he put them through. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-chance-that-sandusky-is-found-not-guilty/625190.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-chance-that-sandusky-is-found-not-guilty/625190.md?page=9)