Sandusky's son says his father abused him; case goes to jury

Former Penn State University assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky exits the courthouse after the defense rested it's case at the Centre County Courthouse in Bellefonte, Pa., June 20, 2012. / Nabil K. Mark,AP Photo/Centre Daily Times

Updated 9:57 PM ET

(CBS/AP) BELLEFONTE, Pa. - Jerry Sandusky was either a "predatory pedophile" who lured young boys to Penn State with gifts and access to big-time football, or a victim of now-grown men who lied to get a payout, attorneys argued Thursday as the former coach's child sex abuse case went to a jury.

As jurors deliberated into the evening, one of Sandusky's adopted sons came forward for the first time to say that his father had abused him. Matt Sandusky, 33, was prepared to testify for prosecutors at the trial, his attorneys said in a statement. The statement didn't specify what the alleged abuse was.

"During the trial, Matt Sandusky contacted us and requested our advice and assistance in arranging a meeting with prosecutors to disclose for the first time in this case that he is a victim of Jerry Sandusky's abuse," Andrew Shubin and Justine Andronici wrote in a statement. "At Matt's request, we immediately arranged a meeting between him and the prosecutors and investigators.

"This has been an extremely painful experience for Matt and he has asked us to convey his request that the media respect his privacy. There will be no further comment."

Jury deliberating in Sandusky sex abuse case
Complete coverage of the Jerry Sandusky trial on CBSNews.com

The statement was issued after jurors in the ex-coach's child sex abuse trial began deliberating 48 charges against him. The jurors are sequestered during deliberations.

Lawyers for Matt and Jerry Sandusky and prosecutors did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Matt Sandusky went to live with Sandusky and his wife, Dottie, as a foster child and was adopted by them as an adult.

Earlier in the evening, the panel asked the judge if they could rehear testimony from two witnesses: Mike McQueary, a onetime graduate assistant who reported seeing Sandusky assault a boy in a campus shower, and Dr. Jonathan Dranov, who testified that McQueary gave him a different account of what he saw.

They'll have a chance to listen again to that testimony, and restart deliberations, Friday.

Shortly after the former coach's arrest in November, Matt Sandusky's ex-wife went to court to keep her former father-in-law away from their three young children. Jill Jones successfully obtained a restraining order forbidding the children from sleeping over at their grandparents' home.

At around the same time, details emerged that Matt Sandusky had attempted suicide just four months after first going to live with the couple in 1995. He had come into the home through The Second Mile charity, which Jerry Sandusky founded, and was first a foster child before being legally adopted.

During testimony last week, an accuser known as Victim 4 said Matt Sandusky was living at the Sandusky home at the time he stayed there overnight.

When asked by prosecutors whether Jerry Sandusky ever engaged him in a soap battle in the showers, he recounted the time when he and Matt Sandusky had been playing racket ball. After they were done, he said, they went back to a locker room. Matt got undressed and got into the shower and then Victim 4 and Sandusky followed him in there, he testified.

"Me and Jerry came in. He started pumping his hand full of soap," he said.

At that point, Matt shut off his shower and left and went to another locker room to shower, the witness said.

Asked by prosecutors about Matt's facial expression when the soap battles started, he replied: "Nervous."

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Jerry Sandusky gets 30 to 60 years in prison

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[lloydbest1]

Matt, my man, you should have gone to the authorities LOOONNNNG before now. I believe you, mind, but waiting 'til the last minute doesn't do your case any good and will more likely than not, give even Jerry's C- defense team a shot in the arm they do not deserve.

Too late for a do-over but this should have come to light back in April....

[James-staley]

It is strange that he is not in Jail while he is going to court, it must be nice to have all of these people as a witness and he is still walking around and so free. also Gay men should not have children, it should only be for married men and females, that is one good reason why someone is gay, they do not want children and be married.

[brasileira2]

WHAT The??!!!
What is "strange", as you say, is your comment - You are not very bright dear.

[AVRWEBGUY]

James-staley: Pedophilia is not a sexual preference and it's not about being gay. My kids have friends with gay parents. I never saw or heard anything untoward about them or their parents. Keep the gays out of this.

[Teddie Seeley]

I had been wondering if he molested any of the children, that he and his wife adopted. Or how about all the foster children, they took under their roof. Now we know he has, with at least one of them. Will the other children and grandchildren come forward? Matt, tried to commit suicide, I wonder if he got counseling, after this happened.
I'm really worried that Sandusky, will get away with these charges this time, because the son was not allowed to testify. His next jury will be able to hear Matt's testimony, then this creep of a man, will get what's coming to him.

[vista8635]

The Gimp ain't sleeping no more! Yay!

[Bush-cheney-R-Terrorists]

What a pha king weak phag.

[brasileira2]

He is not a phag... phags like other men, not children

[chroniccomplainer]

Somebody please shoot this jerk. His ego will soon shrink after he is in jail.

[brasileira2]

Yeah, maybe his buddies in prison will have the same sexual appetite for him as he had for the children.
That will be sweet!!!!!

[fitstshu]

In the small town that I grew up in 50yrs. ago, we had a history teacher that preyed on young boys, and was held in high regard by the community.They even have a memorial at the waterfront park for him.When I saw it I dam near puked.How many kids in last 50yrs. have had their lives F'UP by these bstards while people looked the other way.

[cybervigilante]

The son came forward After the jurors were sequestered. That's kind of dumb. It will have no effect on the verdict.

[vista8635]

The gimp grew a pair!

[ralphing]

No he didn't!

He came forward early in the week to the prosecuters, who knew they couldn't put him on at this late point. They informed Sandusky on Thursday that if he testified in his own defense, they could put his son on as a rebuttal witness. That's why Sandusky decided against it, and that's when the defense rested their case.

It's been presented in the news, and definitely before the jury got the case. I do wish he had come forward earlier though.

[Ulgnud]

Has any actual evidence been submitted to the court? Every time I see the press articles about this it seems another "Victim" appears. I don't know what to think.

[americalove1]

Ulgnud, there usually is no actual physical evidence. How could there be? Any physical injuries would have been long gone. There usually is only the victim's word. However, as I posted earlier, the testimony, as reported, clearly indicates classical pedaphile behavior.

[themanfrombrum]

So how do you all feel now about gay men having male children?

[FranceH]

What does that have to do with anything? A gay man caring for his son is no different than a mother caring for her son. A pedophile is a whole other entity.

[Geoff_kl]

another typical homophobic comment. It has been proven time and time again that the vast majority of pedophiles are straight men. Anyway, rape is rarely about sexual gratification. Its about power and control. Grow up if you want to take part in adult conversations....