Jerry Sandusky Allowed to See Grandchildren, Judge Rules
The Pennsylvania judge in Jerry Sandusky's child sex abuse trial ruled on Monday that the former Penn State assistant coach has permission to visit most of his grandchildren, the Associated Press reported.
Judge John Cleland also ruled that Sandusky's jury will be made up of residents of State College and the encompassing area.
"If, after a reasonable attempt it is apparent that a jury cannot be selected within a reasonable time, then I will reconsider this ruling," Judge Cleland wrote, noting that jury selection will be difficult, considering the publicity surrounding the case.
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Cleland asked state prosecutors to try to work with the judge who supervised the grand jury that investigated Sandusky to come up with a plan to release grand jury transcripts to Sandusky's attorneys "on a schedule which balances the appropriate interests of maintaining the secrecy of the grand jury while still assuring the trial can proceed without unnecessary disruption."
Sandusky, who is facing 52 criminal counts of sexual abuse, lost a request to have prosecutors disclose the names, addresses and birthdays of witnesses in the case.
Last week, prosecutors asked to have Sandusky, who is currently on house arrest awaiting trial, confined to his home after neighbors expressed discomfort seeing Sandusky watching children at an elementary school behind his home. Cleland denied that motion.
"No evidence was presented that at any time the defendant made any effort to contact any of the children by signaling or calling to them, or that he made any gestures directed toward them, or that he acted in any inappropriate way whatsoever," Cleland wrote.
The former Penn State coach was granted the right to see adult visitors, as well as his grandchildren, under their parents' supervision. Sandusky, 68, was allowed to create a list of up to 12 adults, along with members of his immediate family he wished to see, AP reported.
County officials supervising his home confinement will later approve or deny his visitor requests. He will be limited to two hours of visits three times a week.
Visitation requests for three of Sandusky's grandchildren facing custody litigations were deferred to the judge overseeing the custody case.
