Penn State Sandusky scandal: AD arrested, Paterno fired, dies; cover-up charged #9

[Reader]

Can Jerry Sandusky jurors overlook their biases? Analysts say it will be difficult

http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2012/06/can_jerry_sandusky_jurors_over.html#incart_mce

........It’s difficult for those with children and who work around children to put aside their biases, said Melissa Gomez, a jury consultant from Philadelphia.

“When you have a better understanding of young kids, it makes it more real and makes it all the more upsetting,” Gomez said. “It’s not really human nature to be able to put those things aside. Your core beliefs, that’s part of who you are. It’s a difficult thing for a human being to do.”

More at link.....


Article is more about biases against JS but honestly I'm worried about all of the jurors with Penn State ties....can they really set aside all the previous respect and admiration JS had and believe he abused the victims? I just hope the evidence is so overwhelming they have no choice but to believe he did. His jocular attitude yesterday is worrying...now that he has his 'local jury' does he think this is all a joke?

 

[J. J. in Phila]

Article is more about biases against JS but honestly I'm worried about all of the jurors with Penn State ties....can they really set aside all the previous respect and admiration JS had and believe he abused the victims? I just hope the evidence is so overwhelming they have no choice but to believe he did. His jocular attitude yesterday is worrying...now that he has his 'local jury' does he think this is all a joke?

Here is a survey of alumni, just reported: http://www.centredaily.com/2012/06/07/3221200/penn-state-alumnis-feelings-for.html

Last year 70% said they had positive feelings about Penn State. Today, it's at 47%.

I still think it is a great university and that I received a good education there. I no longer have the "positive feelings." It is Central Pennsylvania Gothic and I am appalled and disgusted by what happened there.

 

[StellarsJay]

More interesting- Ganim's notes on who didn't get selected for the jury:

http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2012/06/the_jerry_sandsuky_case_how_th.html

 

[Pensfan]

Live twitter for the trial:
http://livewire.wtae.com/Event/Jerry_Sandusky_Trial_2

97 percent of Penn State grads state they were very or somewhat satisfied with their experience at Penn State as a student.
http://www.centredaily.com/2012/06/07/3221200/penn-state-alumnis-feelings-for.html#storylink=cpy

 

[Quiche]

I think those jurists who are close to the situation-- employees of Penn State, those who know Sandusky, those who love the football and Paterno, those who've watched this issue take over their tranquil town and seen it replaced with lurid speculation and media glare, they're going to take his crime personally, because in a way, they are his victims as well. It's all his fault, simple as that.

I'm pleased with the jury.


:moo:

 

[HMSHood]

I thought I'd peruse some images from the jury selection-- here are a few I find choice. (He's the doofiest looking monster I've ever seen... makes him all the more creepy, imo.)

He is immature and acts like an overgrown adolescent. I notice many evil figures are immature whether they are bullies, rapists, killers, terrorists, or dictators. :crazy:

 

[azwriter]

He is immature and acts like an overgrown adolescent. I notice many evil figures are immature whether they are bullies, rapists, killers, terrorists, or dictators. :crazy:

As ya all may know, I went to high school with Jerry. He was a big joker during that time. But I saw it mainly as a way to cover his discomfort being in a group of teens. He always seemed upbeat and was friendly but it never seemed natural to me.

I scratch my head and wonder how the hell did he think he could get away with messing with boys. Either he was very arrangant and sure of himself or he was just plain dumb and bought into the fame he had gained at the university and thought himself untouchable.

I'm signing up to watch/read and seek out every scrap of information about this upcoming trial. I am still in shock today as I was when this broke last Fall.
jmo

 

[J. J. in Phila]

I scratch my head and wonder how the hell did he think he could get away with messing with boys. Either he was very arrangant and sure of himself or he was just plain dumb and bought into the fame he had gained at the university and thought himself untouchable.

I'm signing up to watch/read and seek out every scrap of information about this upcoming trial. I am still in shock today as I was when this broke last Fall.
jmo

How many people, politicians, actors, business people, and sports people think that they are some how "above it?" They are great, so everyone tells them, so the rules don't apply to them. Well, that's how they see it.

That is why I'm very happy to be "famous blogger" only in Centre County, where I don't live,

 

[Quiche]

What do you want to bet the first witness the prosecution opens with kept a personal journal? With something this heavy going on through adolescence, I imagine the odds are pretty good some emotional coping went onto paper. jmo

If so, that's a great foundation for the recurring motifs of the other victims: the "blows" to the stomach, the wrestling and horseplay, the effort to isolate and wrangle to be alone with them, the gifts, the prime seats at games, the "love" that came from both Jerry and Dottie, the difficulty in "breaking up" with him... It's going to become a familiar drum beat that everyone will endeavor to get out of their minds, and fail to do so. This is my clairvoyant moment of the day. :seeya: (well, there'll probably be a few more )


Bless every one of these young men who are braving very public waters in order to stop this predator. They are the best of us, imo.

 

[J. J. in Phila]

Judge denied Amendola's motion to dismiss any of the charges: http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2012/06/judge_denies_sandusky_motion_t.html

Even the Victim 8 incident (2000) will be tried.

If I were Amendola, I'd be saying "plea deal, please."

 

[OwlGirl]

Hi - is this where the trial will be discussed or will a new thread be started? In Session coverage starts Monday.

 

[Reader]

What do you want to bet the first witness the prosecution opens with kept a personal journal? With something this heavy going on through adolescence, I imagine the odds are pretty good some emotional coping went onto paper. jmo

If so, that's a great foundation for the recurring motifs of the other victims: the "blows" to the stomach, the wrestling and horseplay, the effort to isolate and wrangle to be alone with them, the gifts, the prime seats at games, the "love" that came from both Jerry and Dottie, the difficulty in "breaking up" with him... It's going to become a familiar drum beat that everyone will endeavor to get out of their minds, and fail to do so. This is my clairvoyant moment of the day. :seeya: (well, there'll probably be a few more )


Bless every one of these young men who are braving very public waters in order to stop this predator. They are the best of us, imo.

Your post reminded me of this article on HuffPost that I read a couple of days ago and what the writer recommended for the prosecution and defense:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mari-fagel/jerry-sandusky-trial_b_1571262.html?ref=jerry-sandusky

............It comes down to the first witness they put on the stand. The key to swaying jurors' minds is hooking them with the first accuser to testify. If the first accuser is convincing in his testimony, makes a good impression on the jurors and his story stands up on cross-examination, then all the others will basically fall into place. The prosecution needs to get the jury to believe that first story, and if they believe that first witness, even if the others aren't as strong, they've already convinced the jury that the defendant is at least capable of these heinous crimes. It's a lot easier to convince a jury he molested all ten if they believe he molested the first.
-------

Their strongest defense is to mimic the Michael Jackson case. Jackson was acquitted of all 14 criminal counts related to the alleged molestation of a young man in 2005 and, like this case, there was no physical evidence, just Jackson's word against his accuser's. Like this case, Jackson was a beloved idol who prosecutors had the task of convincing he was not only capable of these crimes, but committed them. And like this case, the key question was did he do something merely deemed inappropriate by sharing his bed with young boys, or did he take it one step further and molest them? The question here is did Jerry Sandusky merely shower with these children, gross and inappropriate but not criminal, or did he sexually abuse them? Just as Jackson's defense was adamant he only shared his bed with children, Sandusky's defense will try to claim he only showered with the boy in the now-infamous 2001 incident.

 

[Reader]

Judge denied Amendola's motion to dismiss any of the charges: http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2012/06/judge_denies_sandusky_motion_t.html

Even the Victim 8 incident (2000) will be tried.

If I were Amendola, I'd be saying "plea deal, please."

Great news!

 

[ohiogirl]

As ya all may know, I went to high school with Jerry. He was a big joker during that time. But I saw it mainly as a way to cover his discomfort being in a group of teens. He always seemed upbeat and was friendly but it never seemed natural to me.

I scratch my head and wonder how the hell did he think he could get away with messing with boys. Either he was very arrangant and sure of himself or he was just plain dumb and bought into the fame he had gained at the university and thought himself untouchable.

I'm signing up to watch/read and seek out every scrap of information about this upcoming trial. I am still in shock today as I was when this broke last Fall.
jmo

all of the above and he couldn't help himself, jmo:seeya:

 

[ThoughtFox]

Hi - is this where the trial will be discussed or will a new thread be started? In Session coverage starts Monday.

Hi, OwlGirl. It's up to the Moderators, but probably we will just continue on this thread until it fills up and then they will start a new one.

 

[Reader]

Judge denied Amendola's motion to dismiss any of the charges: http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2012/06/judge_denies_sandusky_motion_t.html

Even the Victim 8 incident (2000) will be tried.

If I were Amendola, I'd be saying "plea deal, please."

The denial order:

http://www.co.centre.pa.us/media/up...S SUPPLEMENTAL PRETRIAL MOTIONS IN LIMINE.pdf

 

[Blondie in Spokane]

Plea deal a longshot in Sandusky child sex abuse case

"Though there were some signs early in the case that plea discussions might be under way, it would be difficult for the prosecution to make an offer the defense would be willing to accept.* The main reason is the defendant's age -- 68.* A sentence of more than*12 to*15 years would virtually guarantee that*Sandusky would never*see life outside a jail cell, especially given that inmates have shorter than average life expectancy.* Yet given the seriousness of the allegations against Sandusky, the prosecution could hardly agree to a sentence*that would mean anything less than an effective life sentence.* In some ways, the defense had little choice but to go to trial -- there was no realistic alternative."




http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2...ongshot-in-sandusky-child-sex-abuse-case?lite

 

[Pensfan]

He is immature and acts like an overgrown adolescent. I notice many evil figures are immature whether they are bullies, rapists, killers, terrorists, or dictators. :crazy:

One of the known characteristics of a preferential pedophile is "perpetual adolescent".

'

I agree about the photos. I can't stand to watch any interview with him.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that he doesn't show up for trial in a Penn State jacket.

 

[azwriter]

Plea deal a longshot in Sandusky child sex abuse case

"Though there were some signs early in the case that plea discussions might be under way, it would be difficult for the prosecution to make an offer the defense would be willing to accept.* The main reason is the defendant's age -- 68.* A sentence of more than*12 to*15 years would virtually guarantee that*Sandusky would never*see life outside a jail cell, especially given that inmates have shorter than average life expectancy.* Yet given the seriousness of the allegations against Sandusky, the prosecution could hardly agree to a sentence*that would mean anything less than an effective life sentence.* In some ways, the defense had little choice but to go to trial -- there was no realistic alternative."

http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2...ongshot-in-sandusky-child-sex-abuse-case?lite

Great post. Thanks.

But how would everyone here react if after the prosecution's opening statement this trial was canceled because a plea deal was met? It's a longshot, but it is something to think about. Comments?

 

[Reader]

Great post. Thanks.

But how would everyone here react if after the prosecution's opening statement this trial was canceled because a plea deal was met? It's a longshot, but it is something to think about. Comments?

At this point, I'd be surprised. I think Amendola and Sandusky want to try to destroy the victims' credibility. If they see that the first few witnesses hold up with convincing testimony and proof (letters, diaries, gifts), they may try for a plea deal then.