Following two days of deliberations, a jury of seven women and five men Friday night convicted the former Penn State assistant football coach of 45 of 48 counts, including 17 first degree felonies.
Sandusky was accused of sexually assaulting 10 young boys during a 15 year period. He was convicted of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, corrupting the morals of minors and endangering the welfare of children.
Sandusky leaned over the defense table and shook the hand of defense attorney Joe Amendola. Then he stood, turned and waved to his family, and was escorted out of the courtroom.
Cheers came from a crowd that had gathered outside the courthouse as news of the verdict reached them.
After court was adjourned, Amendola spent a few minutes crouched down in front of the Sandusky family.
"They're devastated. But they've been devastated. And they've been devastated since these charges came to light.," Amendola said. But it was expected. "Everyone has to understand because of where we started with this, this was not a surprise."
Attorney General Linda Kelly says the goal of the prosecution team has always been to receive a fair and just verdict in the Sandusky case.
"That goal has been accomplished with the jury's verdict today. And we believe that justice has been served."
Kelly thanked her office staff, and then, more solemnly, the abuse victims who testified in the case.
"This trial was not something they sought," Kelly said "but rather something that forced them to face the demons of their past and to reveal what happened to them and their childhood when they met Jerry Sandusky."
Following the verdict, Senior Judge John Cleland revoked Sandusky's bail and sent him to the Centre County Correctional Institute pending sentencing. When the 68 year old Sandusky is sentenced in about three months, he faces a minimum of 60 years in prison and a maximum of 442 years.
Defense attorney Amendola said there would certainly be an appeal.
