Penn State assistant football coach Mike McQueary is testifying this afternoon at the child sexual abuse trial of former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky. Last fall McQueary told a grand jury that he saw Sandusky with a boy in the showers at an athletic facility on campus.
Earlier today an 18 year old, identified by the Attorney General's office as Victim Number 1, cried on the stand as the lead prosecutor asked him to tell the story of the first time Sandusky sexually abused him during a sleepover at the Sandusky home. (Note: it is the policy of Essential Public Radio not to identify victims and alleged victims of sexual abuse)
Such abuse, he said, became routine, and the sleepovers continued during the school year and more frequently during the summers, with the alleged victim saying he spent more time with Sandusky than he did with his own family at the time.
He said his mother liked the idea of him having a father figure in Sandusky - the alleged victim had no father figure at home.
But he says by the year 2008, he was trying to break away from Sandusky, eventually reporting the abuse to school and county services, and then police and a grand jury.
Number One showed much more emotion on the stand that the previous alleged victim to testify, there were similar story elements. They cited embarrassment and confusion when prodded by attorneys for the reason why they didn't report abuse sooner.
The now 18 year old's mother complained about Sandusky in 2008 and that led to the grand jury investigation.
Following Victim 1's testimony, Jessica Dershem, a caseworker with the Clinton County Children and Youth Services took the stand and said she met with Sandusky and his attorney in early 2009 following a complaint from Number One's mother. Dershem said that Sandusky denied having sexual contact with the teen.
Sandusky faces 52 counts involving 10 boys over a 15-year span.
Here's a recap of the first day of testimony.
Read a summary of testimony from earlier today.
