Can Sandusky Get A Fair Trial? Expert Weighs In

DETROIT (Talk Radio 1270) As jury selection wrapped up in the explosive case against former Penn State defensive coach Jerry Sandusky, 68, there was one question on the minds of many court observers: Can he get a fair trial?

News emerged Thursday that eight of the chosen jurors have ties to Penn State, the place where Sandusky worked while allegedly sexually abusing at least 10 boys over the course of 15 years. One of the jurors reportedly graduated from Penn State in 2007, the year Sandusky gave the commencement speech.

With the jury approved, opening statements begin Monday.

CBS correspondent Barry Bagnato is live at the much-anticipated trial and set the scene for Charlie Langton on his 1270 Talk Radio show.

"Feelings run deep about Penn State and about this scandal," Bagnato told Langton, adding the attorneys started with a pool of about 200 potential jurors before whittling them down.

So, what's the atmosphere like in Bellefonte, Penn. right now?

"There's a mix of it, people have never stopped talking about the scandal here ... About this case, about the impact all of this has had on Penn State and its formerly practically pristine reputation," Bagnato said. "There's a mix of feelings, there's a lot of anger at the university for firing Joe Paterno, who eventually died."

Most of all he said, there's discussion about who is actually on this jury that will decide Sandusky's fate. The former coach has denied he did anything wrong.

"There may be somebody who tries to get on the jury ...  hides feelings perhaps against Sandusky, just to get a chance to convict him, one of those rogue jurors that we hear often about," Bagnato said. "They think there's a real possibility there might be a couple of people who might try to do that in this case."

Bagnato has been covering the case for months, and was at the first Penn State football game held after Paterno was fired.

"I think it's safe to say that by and large the majority of people feel that Joe Paterno did not get a good deal, did not get a day in court if you will to really fully explain his side before he was abruptly fired by the university," Bagnato said.