The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately
wicked - who can know it?
Jeremiah 17:9
Judge John Cleland, presiding at the Centre County Courthouse in Pennsylvania, sentenced Jerry Sandusky, former defensive coordinator for Penn State's football program, to 30-60 years in prison on 45 guilty counts of sexual molestation - a sentence that will keep Sandusky in prison for life. In my entire lifetime, I cannot recall a more evil exploitation of children than the saga of this man - opening a "charity" to help disadvantaged boys, then utilizing that opportunity to sexually molest them to satisfy his own carnality.
At the end of the sentencing, Sandusky was given 15 minutes to speak his mind. If anyone was expecting him to man up and admit his horrific failings, they were vastly disappointed. According to sports journalist Dan Wetzel, "There was no acknowledgement of Sandusky's crimes, no apologies to the victims, no signs that he cared or even understood the path of destruction he left in his wake." He begged those with "the courage to listen" to "evaluate the accusers and their families," labeling his victims as "greedy, dishonest, disloyal, poor, trashy, troubled liars."
During the trial, Sandusky came across as highly intelligent, viciously cunning, hatefully smug, and self-righteous to a fault. There were times, when he was smirking at reporters about his victims, that I wished someone would just wipe that sneer right off his face. I never held out the hope that he would admit to his crimes. His final words before being hauled off to prison proved that he will exit society still believing that he has been horribly wronged. I am thankful that any chance for him to touch another youth has been put forever out of his reach. I pray for his victims, that they might find a pathway to healing and wholeness.
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