Three accusers take stand at Sandusky trial

BELLEFONTE, Pa. -- Three more accusers took the stand at Jerry Sandusky's sex-abuse trial Thursday, one of whom said the former Penn State assistant football coach called himself the "tickle monster" before embracing him in a shower and another who said he was forced into sex acts during more than a hundred nights he spent in the ex-coach's home.

A state investigator also testified that authorities heard about a key witness, assistant coach Mike McQueary, through an anonymous email to Centre County prosecutors. The investigator, Anthony Sassano, said authorities identified some of Sandusky's alleged abuse victims through pictures and lists seized from his home and office and that the university was "not very quick" in getting investigators information as part of the probe.

The three who testified Yesterday brought to eight the number of accusers to take the stand over the trial's first four days. The ex-coach faces 52 criminal counts involving alleged assaults of 10 boys over a 15-year span. He has denied the charges.

Sandusky's attorney questioned accusers yesterday about connections they had with other alleged victims. The defense has claimed that the accusers have financial motives, but they've all denied that.

The last of the trial's eight accusers was an 18-year-old who recently graduated from high school. The teen testified that he ended up staying at Sandusky's home more than 100 times up until 2009, maybe even 150 or so, sleeping in the basement, which had a water bed.

"There was no fighting against it," he said of the sexual abuse, adding sometimes he would scream and "tell him to get off me."

One of the other men who testified yesterday is now a member of the Army National Guard. He described frequent sleepovers at Sandusky's home in 1998 and 1999 that included the ex-coach rubbing his body and touching his private area. He also said Sandusky gave him a bear hug in the shower.

Also yesterday, an accuser testified that Sandusky called himself the "tickle monster" and embraced the then-11-year-old boy in a Penn State shower in 1998, prompting an investigation that ultimately ended without any charges being filed.