Jerry Sandusky on suicide watch

By Chellie Cervone - Posted: Jun 25, 2012 at 4:27 am

Although prison officials are saying it is only a “precautionary measure”, they have nevertheless placed Jerry Sandusky on suicide watch.

The former Penn State coach, was found guilty of 45 out of the 48 counts against him for child molestation and faces up to 443 year in jail – effectively a life sentence. The one-time highly regarded coach fell from grace as the throngs of accusers kept growing. Heart wrenching accounts of the abuse the children endured at the hands of their trusted former coach Jerry Sandusky, were heard during the trial that left jurors in tears.

BELLEFONTE, PA – JUNE 21: Former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky arrives at his child sex abuse trial at the Centre County Courthouse on June 21, 2012 in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania. Closing arguments will begin today in the sexual abuse trial of Jerry Sandusky, who is charged with 51 criminal counts of sexual abuse on 10 boys over a 15-year period. (Image credit: Getty Images via @daylife)

There was speculation during the 3 week trial that Sandusky would take the stand in his own defense. He never did. Even as the trial ended, more shocking news was discovered. Sandusky’s adopted son, Matt, who initially stood by his father”s side came forward and admitted that he too was a victim of sexual abuse at the hands of the now guilty and disgraced former Penn State Coach. According to his lawyers, Andrew Shubin and Justine Andronici, Matt Sandusky was willing to testify.

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The threat of this testimony is most likely the prime reason that Jerry Sandusky did not take the stand and one of the underlying reasons that the prison placed Jerry Sandusky on suicide watch.

Matt Sandusky was adopted when he was 18 years old, according to the New York Times. His biological mother, Debra Long, said she had tried early on to get the authorities to take action. Long said she knew her son was in trouble in Sandusky’s home but was unable to stop it. Mike Long, her husband, said his wife felt ignored by the authorities once her son had been adopted.

Matt Sandusky’s ex-wife , Jill Marie Jones, was granted an order by the court to have Jerry Sandusky barred from being alone with the children.

It seems that so many people knew something was just “not right” with the attention Jerry Sandusky lavished om their children but they did not truly realize that he was a sexual predator. Victim Grooming: Protect Your Child from Sexual Predators is an excellent on-line publication that can help parents recognize some of the steps sexual predators employ and offers tips of protecting children.

Sandusky also faces a potential barrage of civil lawsuits from his accusers.