Sandusky asks judge to overturn convictions

BELLEFONTE, Pa. -- Former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky asked a judge yesterday to overturn his child sexual abuse convictions and grant him a new trial, claiming his lawyers didn't have enough time to prepare and the statute of limitations for some charges had expired.

Lawyers for Sandusky, 68, made the filing at the courthouse in Bellefonte, where he was sentenced two weeks ago to 30 to 60 years in prison after being convicted of abusing 10 boys, some on Penn State's campus in State College.

"The defendant submits the court's sentence was excessive and tantamount . . . to a life sentence, which the defendant submits is in violation of his rights," they wrote.

The 31-page set of motions, technically not appeals because they were filed with the trial judge, cover a wide range of assertions, including insufficient evidence, improper use of hearsay testimony and improper rulings from the bench.

More than a third of the document explores ways Sandusky believes the rapid pace of the case violated his right to due process, going from arrest to trial in just over seven months.

His lawyers said they were swamped by documents from prosecutors, they lacked time to interview possible witnesses, and an expert and two assistants were not available at trial.

The document said Judge John Cleland ruled improperly on the use of a computer-generated drawing of an accuser and issued incorrect jury instructions. It also raised issues about prosecutors' closing argument, the vagueness of the charges, sequestration of jurors and the amount of restitution ordered.

The attorney general's office said the Sandusky filing was under review.

Sandusky remains in the county jail, awaiting a transfer to a state prison. Eight young men testified against him in June, describing a range of abuse when they were boys.

Sandusky didn't testify at his trial but has consistently maintained his innocence in interviews and at sentencing.

The new filing was made a day before one of the young men who testified was expected to tell his story on ABC.

The man, known in court records as Victim 1, has a book about the scandal coming out next week.