He was convicted on 45 counts of child sexual abuse, but Jerry Sandusky continues to plead his innocence. In an interview with filmmaker John Ziegler, Sandusky disputes the testimony of a key prosecution witness. Former Penn State assistant coach Mike McQueary testified under oath that he saw Sandusky showering with a minor boy and heard sexual noises from the shower area.
In the interview, Sandusky makes the weak and somewhat garbled argument: “I don’t understand how anybody would have walked into that locker room from where he was and heard sounds associated that was sex going on like he said that could’ve been,’’ Sandusky said, actually laughing on the tape. “I mean, that would have been the last thing I would have thought about. I would have thought maybe fooling around or something like that.”
Give me a break! It reminds me of the story I’ve heard from more than one child molester: “We were just wrestling around and the kid’s pants came off.”
This time, Penn State officials responded swiftly and appropriately to the Sandusky interview:
Jerry Sandusky’s statements today continue to open wounds for his victims, and the victims of child sexual abuse everywhere. We have tremendous respect for the men who came forward to tell their stories publicly. Penn State continues to take important steps, including the training of over 11,000 employees and volunteers on how to recognize and report suspected child abuse.
In many instances, pedophiles and those who prey on minors never come to grips with the tremendous damage they’ve inflicted upon their victims. Sandusky is a case in point. He continues to insist that he was the one victimized.
Is it little wonder that survivors of sexual abuse struggle with coming forward and engaging in the process of healing?