Judge refuses to throw out child sex-abuse charges against Jerry Sandusky

The judge presiding over the case of a former collegiate assistant football coach who is charged in the molestation of 10 young boys over a 15-year time period has refused to throw out the charges against the since-retired coach.

Judge John M. Cleland issued an order Thursday denying a motion by Jerry Sandusky’s defense attorney that sought to dismiss the charges against his client on the grounds that they were barred by a statute of limitations and not specific enough to warrant proper defense preparation.

Cleland’s order, filed at the Centre County Court of Common Pleas, denied a variety of motions that had been filed by attorney Joseph Amendola.

Among other things, Cleland denied a motion to dismiss on grounds of due process because of a perceived lack of specificity; denied a petition for write of habeas corpus; denied a motion to dismiss due to expiration of statute of limitations on the grounds that the charges fall in line with current Pennsylvania law; and denied a motion to compel discovery.

The judge also denied a defense motion for continuance beyond the already pushed back date. Cleland had earlier ordered the trial, which was originally set to start in May, pushed back to June 5 due to logistical reasons unrelated to defense assertions that attorneys weren’t able to adequately prepare for trial in the time frame allotted.

In his order, Cleland also denied a defense motion to suppress evidence, specifically the search warrant used in connection with Sandusky’s arrest.

Cleland ruled that the probable cause used in the case was sufficient for the issuance of a search warrant.

Sandusky, who was the defensive coordinator for the Penn State Nittany Lions, stands accused of sexually abusing 10 young boys during the 1990s and earlier last decade.

He has publicly denied the criminal charges against him.