Sandusky opposes out-of-county jury
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The attorney representing Jerry Sandusky is opposed to having an out-of-county jury hear the criminal sex abuse case against his client.
In a response filed Wednesday in Centre County Common Pleas Court, Joe Amendola said that because media coverage has been so widespread, that choosing a jury anywhere in Pennsylvania will be difficult.
"The defendant believes that... a jury selected from the Centre County community will be uniquely qualified to hear his cases in a fair and impartial manner," Mr. Amendola wrote.
He went on to say that because of the unprecedented media coverage, maybe both the state Attorney General's office and the defense should file a joint request for a continuance to allow "media attention on a local, statewide and national level to subside after which the court can revisit this issue if a need to do so still exists."
The prosecution filed a motion for a change of venire last week, arguing that it believed it would be too difficult for jurors from Centre County to separate out their feelings and loyalties regarding Penn State University.
Mr. Sandusky is charged with sexually abusing 10 boys over a 15-year period. He is currently on home electronic monitoring pending trial.
On Friday, Senior Judge John M. Cleland will hear arguments on the motion for change of venire, as well as another prosecution motion asking that Mr. Sandusky be required to stay inside his home while on house arrest.
First Published February 9, 2012 12:00 am
