Jerry Sandusky was convicted of 45 out of 48 counts of sexual abuse of minors. After the verdict was read, he was placed on suicide watch for his own safety. He will remain in protective custody, under individual guard, in an area separate from other inmates until sentencing.

The move to place Sandusky on suicide watch, according to Sandusky’s co-counsel Karl Rominger, was just a precaution:

“The judge in this case and the warden in this case decided to take a measure not meant to suggest in any way that he is suicidal, but simply to put the precautions in place first and then evaluate later.”

According to CNN, “Sandusky will be classified at Pennsylvania's Camp Hill diagnostic facility…before he is likely sent to one of the sex offender units in the state prison system.” There are no immediate concerns for his safety.

Rominger continued:

“I think it’s important that people understand that there is no reason to believe he needs to be on suicide watch, but it was done in an abundance of caution given the nature of the charges.”

Sandusky is expected to spend the rest of his life in prison, despite his attorneys’ determination to appeal.

The verdict has been hailed as a landmark victory in cases of sexual abuse. The lawyers of two anonymous victims that gave evidence during the trial stated:

“This jury broke years of silence about Sandusky's systematic targeting, grooming and abuse of children and finally delivered justice. The verdict is a direct result of the victims' inspiring courage. The victims' provided heart-wrenching accounts of abuse, manipulation and betrayal by one of the most powerful and protected members of this community.”

Upon exiting the courthouse in handcuffs, a crowd gathered outside cheered as the verdict was announced and hurled insults at Sandusky, including things like, “Rot in hell!”

Sandusky is facing a minimum sentence of 60 years in prison, but he will need to wait 90 days for the official sentence to be handed down.

 

Read more of Neon Tommy's coverage of the Sandusky trial here.

 

Reach Executive Producer Cara Palmer here; follow her here.