Sandusky jailed for US sex abuse

9 October 2012 Last updated at 14:33 GMT Jerry Sandusky arrives at the Bellefonte, Pennsylvania courthouse

Former Penn State football coach Jerry Sandusky has been sentenced to 30 to 60 years in prison for sexually abusing young boys for more than a decade, US media reports say.

The sentence, issued by Centre County Judge John Cleland, means Sandusky, 68, is likely to die in prison.

The former coach was convicted of 45 counts of molesting boys in June.

His November 2011 arrest triggered a crisis at the US university famed for its football programme.

He appeared at the Tuesday hearing at the Pennsylvania courthouse wearing a red prison jumpsuit and with his wrists shackled.

His lawyers said that Sandusky plans to appeal.

Before the hearing, in a recording released to a Penn State campus radio station on Monday, he proclaimed his innocence.

"They can take away my life, they can make me out as a monster, they can treat me as a monster, but they can't take away my heart," Sandusky said.

"In my heart, I know I did not do these alleged, disgusting acts. My wife has been my only sex partner and that was after marriage. Our love continues."

He was expected to repeat his claims of innocence during the hearing on Tuesday. The court was also expected to hear from some of Sandusky's victims and their families.

Some his friends and family members have written letters in support of him to the judge, and the disgraced former coach's wife, Dottie, was expected to attend the hearing.

Decade-long abuse

In June, Sandusky was convicted on 45 out of 48 counts of sexually abusing 10 boys over 15 years.

He molested boys he met through the Second Mile, a charity he founded for at-risk youth. The trial heard that the boys were abused at Sandusky's home, in hotels and at Penn State athletic facilities.

Eight men aged between 18 and 28 testified during the nearly two-week trial, providing graphic details of their ordeals.

In addition, two Penn State administrators are awaiting trial for failing to report the suspected abuse and lying to a grand jury.

Penn State had boasted one of the proudest college football traditions in the US. In the aftermath of Sandusky's arrest, the institution's president and legendary football coach Joe Paterno were both fired, and many results were ruled invalid.

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