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Judge Will Decide Reach of Sandusky Defense Subpoenas

Attorneys argued Wednesday over how much information Jerry Sandusky’s defense team can have when it comes to the 10 alleged victims. Sandusky’s defe...

Attorneys argued Wednesday over how much information Jerry Sandusky's defense team can have when it comes to the 10 alleged victims.

Sandusky's defense attorney marched into the courthouse in Bellefonte. In addition to asking for the trial to be pushed back, Joe Amendola is asking for all sorts of background information on his client's accusers.  Jerry Sandusky was not in court and remains on house arrest.

The judge told attorneys he will not deny all the requests for documents made by Sandusky's defense team. Attorneys for school districts, including the one in Clinton County where Victim 1 attended school, argued that some of those documents are confidential and private.

To that, Amendola told the judge he is looking for any evidence that Sandusky's alleged victims suffered from behavioral issues before they ever met the former Penn State assistant football coach.

"It's not a fishing expedition, that's what we want. You heard in there that they said they're looking for whether some of these victims were on food stamps or unemployment check," said Mai Fernandez of the National Center for Victims of Crime.

Fernandez was the only official speaking this time outside the Centre County Courthouse after the judge's gag order meant attorneys could speak about the case.

The judge said he expects to make rulings on the issues surrounding subpoena power "quickly. "

Throughout the hearing, Senior Judge John Cleland made some indications he may very well keep the pace for trial in early June, and will not go along with the defense's motion to push back the trial. That means June 5, jury selection would begin for the much-awaited trial of Jerry Sandusky.

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