U.S. jury convicts ex-coach in child sex abuse case

Washington, June 23 (Xinhua-ANI): A jury on Friday night convicted Jerry Sandusky, a former American football coach at Pennsylvania State University, for 45 of 48 accounts of child sex abuse, in a scandal that rocked the United States.

Sandusky, a 68-year-old former assistant coach, was convicted of sexually abusing 10 young boys over a 15-year period. The jury spent over 20 hours to deliberate. The convictions almost certainly mean Sandusky will spend the rest of his life in prison.

Sandusky was indicted by a grand jury in November, 2011, and the trial started on June 11, during which eight of his 10 victims took the stand to testify against him. He is likely to be sentenced in the coming weeks.

The scandal rocked the university, and led to legendary college football coach Joe Paterno's dismissal and the university president's ouster. It also put a spotlight on child sex abuse as the case gained national attention. (Xinhua-ANI)