The verdict was delivered around 10 p.m. after jurors deliberated for about 21 hours over two days.
Jerry Sandusky leaves the Centre County Courthouse Friday night after being found guilty in his sexual abuse trial, in Bellefonte, Pa. Sandusky was convicted of sexually assaulting 10 boys over 15 years.A Centre County jury found former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky guilty of 45 counts of child sexual abuse for 10 victims.
The jury acquitted Sandusky, 68, of three counts: involuntary deviate sexual intercourse for victim 2, and indecent assault counts for victims 5 and 6.
The verdict was delivered around 10 p.m. after jurors deliberated for about 21 hours over two days. Cheers could be heard outside the courthouse as news of the verdict spread.
Victim 1's mom told The Patriot-News when she heard the verdict "I cried, I'm very happy."
Judge John Cleland revoked Sandusky's bail and he was escorted from the courthouse in handcuffs and into a waiting police cruiser. Dottie Sandusky left the courthouse without making a statement to the throng of media and spectators waiting outside.
The crowd did cheer as the team of prosecutors walked out following the verdict.
Attorney General Linda Kelly thanked the victims "who came forward bravely to testify in this trial… and to finally put a stop to the crimes that have been committed by this defendant."
Karl Rominger, co-defense counsel for Sandusky, told CNN that one of the issues to consider for appeal is that Sandusky's defense attorneys could not get a continuance for the trial.
Defense attorney Joseph Amendola also mentioned the continuance issue in his statement outside the courthouse following the verdict.
"We feel we have some decent appeal issues," Amendola said. "As with any case there are some issues."
He also noted the inability of one of the defense's experts to testify as another possible appeal issue. But Amendola said the appeal cannot be filed until Sandusky is sentenced, and he realizes his client is essentially facing a life sentence. When Amendola said that, people in the crowd began cheering.
Amendola said Jerry Sandusky "reluctantly" decided to not testify as part of his legal strategy.
"Jerry had always wanted to testify," Amendola said. "I didn't smoke screen you. I didn't mislead you."
The jury listened to seven days of testimony, including from eight young men who said they were his victims. Jurors also heard about two other alleged victims through other witnesses.
The defense case had consisted largely of character witnesses who defended Sandusky's reputation, a psychologist who said Sandusky had a personality disorder and the ex-coach's wife, who said her husband didn't do anything inappropriate.
His lawyers also suggested the accusers had a financial motive to make up stories and that investigators coached witnesses.
Penn State issued a statement tonight.
"The legal process has spoken and we have tremendous respect for the men who came forward to tell their stories publicly. No verdict can undo the pain and suffering caused by Mr. Sandusky, but we do hope this judgment helps the victims and their families along their path to healing," the statement said.
Gov. Tom Corbett thanked the jury for its "willingness to serve on such a difficult case."
“I also want to commend the multiple victims in this case who had the courage to come forward and testify in court, confronting Sandusky, and proving beyond a reasonable doubt that he is guilty of these reprehensible crimes,’’ Corbett said in a prepared statement.