An 18-year-old victim of Jerry Sandusky, 68, was reduced to tears on the witness stand in Pennsylvania courtroom Tuesday after having to recount details of his alleged sexual abuse.
The victim said he stayed the night at Sandusky's home "over 100 times" during the time he was 11 to 14 years old, and testified to feelings of fear and dissociation. He told the courtroom that he did not know what to do when Sandusky began performing oral sex. "I spaced. I didn't know what to do with all the thoughts running through my head. I just kind of blacked out and didn't want it to happen," he said, according to media reports. "I froze."
On the stand, the victim known as "Victim 1" admitted to telling investigators on different occasions about the number of times Sandusky performed oral sex on him varying from 12 to 25 times. "There was a lot of stress in me not wanting to say what happened. I will say that they were two separate statements, but I was scared. I did tell the truth," he said according to media reports. "When a new person steps in to get my story out and to get me to tell them everything, it takes a little bit. I don't just tell them this happened to me and this and this. It takes a while," he said, then emotionally breaking down again.
The recent high school graduate said he was able to retell his story better as became more comfortable telling the story.
The victim was able to compose himself at one point in the trial, looked Sandusky in the eye as he answered the defense's questions about inconsistencies in his story to investigators. The investigation was over a three year period and discovered abuse allegations from nine other young men.
Victim 1 first met Jerry Sandusky when he was a high school student at Central Mountain High School, where Sandusky was a football coach. Victim 1's complaint against Sandusky sparked the grand jury investigation which led to the firing of legendary Penn State football coach Joe Paterno, as well as Sandusky's arrest.
The teenager repeatedly denied his hopes to ever become wealthy as a result of the case against Sandusky.
Sandusky is facing trial on charges for sexually abusing 10 young boys over a span of 15 years. The sexual abuse has allegedly also taken place inside Penn State athletic facilities. Sandusky was a football defensive coordinator who worked under long time Penn State University head coach Joe Paterno.
The investigations and tense scandal ultimately led to the firing of Joe Paterno and has cost Penn State over $10 million. Sandusky claims he is innocent.
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