(AP)
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Jerry Sandusky's lawyer said today "it's as certain as certain can be" that the former Penn State assistant football coach will address the judge and assert his innocence before he is sentenced on 45 counts of child sexual abuse. Nobody else is expected to speak on Sandusky's behalf during the sentencing hearing tomorrow in Bellefonte, defense attorney Joe Amendola said. "What I anticipate he'll say is that he's innocent," Amendola said outside the courthouse.
"He's going to fight for a new trial," Amendola said. He said "the important thing" about sentencing for the defense "is it starts the appellate process." Sentencing is expected to begin with a hearing to determine if Sandusky qualifies as a sexually violent predator under Pennsylvania's version of Megan's Law, after which Sandusky will be sentenced. The 68-year-old former Penn State assistant football coach will likely spend the rest of his life in prison. Sandusky was convicted in June of abusing 10 boys over 15 years, including some attacks inside university athletic facilities.
