Free | 23/6
Posted: 6/1/2012
HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky, facing trial next week on charges he sexually abused 10 boys, on Thursday asked a state appeals court to review his case and to delay the criminal proceedings against him.The Superior Court's online docket indicated Sandusky filed a petition for review but did not explain what he was seeking. Sandusky also asked the court to seal the document, which was not available after business hours.The judge in Sandusky's criminal case, John Cleland, on Wednesday denied a defense request for a continuance and a second request that would have given Sandusky the right to seek immediate Superior Court review of that decision.Sandusky lawyer Joe Amendola, citing a gag order in the case, declined to comment on Thursday, as did a spokesman for the attorney general's office.Sandusky, 68, awaits trial on dozens of criminal charges alleging he abused the boys, some on campus, over a 15-year period. He has repeatedly denied the allegations and tried to delay the trial, scheduled to begin with jury selection on Tuesday and opening statements June 11.Penn State's president said the university has been trying hard to put the child sex abuse scandal in its rearview mirror and is healing.President Rodney Erickson made his case before a pair of newspaper editorial boards on Wednesday and Thursday, talking up Penn State's response to the massive scandal, which tarnished its image and led to the ousters of Hall of Fame football coach Joe Paterno and Erickson's predecessor, Graham Spanier, whose presidency ended days after Sandusky was charged in November.Erickson said Penn State is seeking to become a leader in the fight against child abuse, pointing out the school donated $2.6 million in bowl revenues to a group that operates rape crisis centers and to its new center for child abuse research and treatment.'The university really has been moving ahead. Sometimes it's hard to get