Sandusky’s Lawyer May Seek Plea Bargain

Screen Shot 2011-12-01 at 11.10.30 AM
Good luck with that, Joe.

I’m not a lawyer. I took some law classes in college and the LSATs, but then decided that I liked dick jokes and sports more, so now I do this. Anyway, I do know one thing: Jerry Sandusky’s lawyer, Joe Amendola, is not very good at his job. 

Patriot News reporter Sara Ganim, who is in the midst of a month-long crusade to become a CNN correspondent (that’s a compliment, not a fact), landed an exclusive interview with Amendola, who loves cameras (think creepy Scott Paterno). He says that there may come a time when Sandusky is forced to plead guilty because there are so many charges against him. Amendola's logic: [from Ganim’s report and her video interview with Amendola

"That could happen [plea bargain] if, if, more allegations come forth and, if, Jerry gets to the point where he realizes fighting against more than the original allegations might be a real uphill battle," Amendola said. "Bottom line, Jerry has always maintained his innocence, from the outset of first allegations, and continues to maintain innocence. What happens with any additional charges which may be filed remains to be seen." 

Additional quotes from video: “We haven’t had these conversations with the [AG’s office]. You know from your experience, Sara, people who maintain their innocence sometimes plead guilty because of the overwhelming evidence against them.”

Meanwhile, Amendola has hired a private investigator. He’s picking apart the case. All together, he admits, it does appear damning. It alleges there are eye-witnesses to child rape and multiple accusers with similar stories about Sandusky. 

But the Centre County lawyer said he’s applying pressure where there are cracks.

 

Translation: Yes, it looks bad. Hell, it’s getting worse. We’re still going to claim innocence, though, despite the roughly 15 alleged victims and hundreds of accusations of sexual assault. It’s so bad, in fact, that we’d be open to a plea bargain– hear that, State? Plea bargain! Please! Until then, we’re going to poke pin holes in the world’s largest air mattress and cross our fingers that it will make a difference. 

Amendola is either really bad at poker or he just watched Margin Call (good movie– rent it, it’s onDemand on FIOS). The movie chronicles investment bankers who forecast the impending mortgage crisis before their peers. They’re then faced with the difficult choice of holding on to their soon-to-be-worthless assets (an inaction that would surely put their company out of business) or liquidating their entire portfolio (an action that will start the mortgage crisis, but allow the bank to get out alive– barely). You can probably guess which one they choose. 

That’s Amendola… only he missed the part where you don’t tell the public that you’re in a lose-lose situation (!!!), because doing so makes it impossible to sell your assets, or, in this case, your story. Here’s why, Joe: You don’t tell your opponent that you’re only holding a Two of Hearts and 10 of Diamonds. You pretend you have a pair of Aces (just ask Amaro). There's a reason for all those "no comments" we hear from lawyers.

Amendola's strategy is the same one used by every defense lawyer ever (remember, don’t have to prove innocence– just poke holes in the prosecution), but most keep the fact that they have almost no case close to the vest.

Anyway, Sandusky may be open to a plea bargain. Here’s video of Ganim’s interview with Amendola, who seems like more of a fame whore than a lawyer. Hell, maybe he’s just Kris Versteeg and trying to sabotage the whole thing. Who knows? And oh yeah, as one reader pointed out last week (I forget who), Amendola pronounces the letter S almost exactly like Herbert, the pedophile neighbor in Family Guy. Fitting.

Videos after the jump.

 

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email

23 Responses

  1. Plea bargain…so what does the esteemed counselor at law intend to have his client cop to? Any kind of inappropriate touching in the state of PA is a felony…do any of these yo-yos inhabit the real world?
    Plea bargaining is for white collar criminals or your garden variety street vendor who sells bootleg DVDs, not for frigging child rape.
    OMFG

  2. ” people who maintain their innocence sometimes plead guilty because of the overwhelming evidence against them.”
    That one statement. I mean holy shit how dumb is this guy? Overwhelming evidence? hmmmm, guilty much?

  3. I hope the state does a plea bargain…it’ll save $$$, save the kids from having to relive their nightmare…even with a plea he’s TOAST…and will die in jail.

  4. I’m not in any way shape or form excusing what Sandusky did Walter, no way no how. But would be the benefit of going to trial having to put said 8-10yr olds on the stand? Does it matter if he is nailed for 40yrs or 120yrs?(just throwing numbers out there) Either way he’s done for…lets do this with the best interest of the victims in mind. That’s fair right?

  5. “Amendola’s strategy is the same one used by every defense lawyer ever (remember, don’t have to prove innocence– just poke holes in the prosecution)…”
    Oh really?! Not a problem at all then, we have nothing to worry about, Jerry is very knowledgable on the subject of poking holes.

  6. This guy is clearly risking disbarment to sabotage the case. Right ? He can’t really be that bad. He’s worse than Barry Zuckercorn.

  7. “people who maintain their innocence sometimes plead guilty because of the overwhelming evidence against them”
    What hes talking about is an alford plea. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alford_plea
    Partially to avoid civil litigation, and partially to never admit you actually did something wrong, you say I’ll take a best interest plea even though I’m not guilty. Works out the same as a guilty plea.
    The thing is, the state will not accept an alford plea, even to avoid having abused children testify. He might get a plea but there is going to be some serious time attached to it.
    Hooray Law School—for once

  8. Dan- thanks. But you might actually know more than Amendola (I’m sure you do, actually), he specifically said “sometimes plead guilty.” I know we’re splitting hairs, but I wouldn’t be shocked if he just meant a normal plea.

  9. Partially to avoid civil litigation, and partially to never admit you actually did something wrong, you say I’ll take a best interest plea even though I’m not guilty. Works out the same as a guilty plea.
    The thing is, the state will not accept an alford plea, even to avoid having abused children testify. He might get a plea but there is going to be some serious time attached to it.
    Hooray Law School—for once

  10. The thing is, the state will not accept an alford plea, even to avoid having abused children testify. He might get a plea but there is going to be some serious time attached to it.
    Hooray Law School—for once

  11. The thing is, the state will not accept an alford plea, even to avoid having abused children testify. He might get a plea but there is going to be some serious time attached to it.
    Hooray Law School—for once

  12. Nproxy time i had engineered read a blogpotentially Hopefully it doesn’t break me facing as much as the wedding particular buyers. after again all. . . I actually feel it was our choice to considered, but we are going to truly thexpectations you would have objects interesting telectronic say. . . Almost all I hall hearing is a bunch of crying about someresult that you could possibly fix iyou have g you were not too busy searching for attention.

Comments are closed.