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Penn. Attorney General: Victims have shown great strength

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    Linda Kelly thanks Jerry Sandusky's victims for their bravery

  • Duration 14:10
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Good evening everyone.

And thank you all for your patience tonight.

I'm attorney general Linda Kelly.

And joining me are members of the prosecution team and investigators on this case.

Some of -- you probably recognize from their roles in the courtroom.

And all right and others -- you.

May recognize from their behind the scenes work in this case.

Do we have Joseph.

Frank frank CNN.

And Janelle.

-- -- -- Up from the attorney generals who -- the trial team in this case.

Major -- what I Wagoner from the Pennsylvania state police.

S special agent -- Santa.

Regional regional.

The regional director Randy feathers from our state college office.

These men and women along -- many other agents troopers.

Investigators attorneys.

And other staff of the attorney general's office of Pennsylvania.

And the Pennsylvania state police.

Have worked tirelessly for the last few years.

To bring these charges to light.

To bring this case to court.

And to see the day that this defendant.

A serial child predator.

Who committed horrific acts.

Upon his victims causing a lifelong.

And life changing consequences for all of them.

Has been -- -- that it has been held accountable for his crimes.

And I'd like to thank each of the individuals that I just mentioned.

For the very important role that they played in bringing this case to today's verdict.

I also -- off for -- most sincere thanks.

To all the young men.

The victims in this case who came forward.

To bravely testifies during this trial.

Finally put a stop.

To the crimes that have been committed.

Committed.

By this defendant.

They've shown great strength and courage during this investigation.

Candidly and sometimes chillingly.

Telling their stories not only to the jury and a packed courtroom.

Audience here and -- want Pennsylvania.

But also to the entire world.

It was incredibly difficult for some of them.

To unearth -- long buried memories of the shocking abuse they suffered suffered at the hands of this defendant.

And most of us cannot possibly fully -- hand.

What they endured when testifying.

In that packed courtroom.

This trial was not something that they sought.

But rather.

Something that forced them to face the demons but -- -- to reveal.

What happened to them and their childhood.

When they met Jerry sandusky.

We hope that our search for justice in this case will help them and other victims.

-- perhaps have been watching from afar and perhaps nearby.

As this case unfolded.

One of the recurring themes of the witness's testimony.

Which came from the wishes of the other for the victims themselves in this case was.

Who would believe the kids.

And the answer to that question is.

We here in -- Pennsylvania.

Would believe it yet.

I think that I speak not only for my own agency.

But.

For law enforcement across the country when I say.

We would believe the kid.

And as reflected by this verdict but that we've -- just heard.

A jury.

Of twelve people here in -- -- PA.

Most definitely would it.

And did believe it yet.

Although we know that the stars that these victims -- can't be erased by the events in a courtroom.

We hope that the outcome of this case.

Not only allows these victims to heal and to begin the process of recovering and rebuilding their lives.

But that it also encourages other victims of sexual abuse to come forward.

This is a crime that thrives in darkness.

It's -- by fear and threats shame and secrecy.

We're predators seek.

Carefully seek the most vulnerable -- -- often they themselves.

Are cloaked in respectability.

That sometimes is almost beyond reproach.

Of all the thousands of cases that stream through our judicial system.

Every once in awhile one.

-- for a brief moment.

Capture the attention of the eyes of the world.

Mesmerizing us -- it plays itself out and it's stardom begins today.

I think that we've -- recognized since the return of the grand jury present and in this case.

In this matter that this was one of those uncommon cases.

And that the eyes of the world have since then been upon us.

You the medium.

Have covered the proceedings in this case with exceptional attentiveness.

And thoroughness.

And you could produce much thoughtful commentary.

And insightful analysis.

Over the course of this trial.

Resulting I think.

In the raising.

Of that.

Resulting in the raising of the consciousness.

-- your readers.

And listeners.

So are -- answer that question if you wait until the end of this.

Resulting in the raising -- the consciousness that your readers and listeners and an increased awareness by the public.

Of the monstrous acts that can be committed.

By sexual predators like the defendant in this case.

Who live among -- Who may appear to be pillars of the community.

Coaching -- sports legends.

And charitable executives extraordinary.

But -- calculating -- and -- meticulous planning mercilessly play prey upon the most vulnerable members of our society.

They carefully select.

They're victims.

In this case -- you know underprivileged kids.

Kids from both broken homes Foster homes one parent families.

And many of them having other issues like learning behavioral.

And emotional problems to deal with -- as well.

And all of the dominant in their time of need turned.

To the charity -- is the second mile.

Where -- news.

Where where we now know that Jerry sandusky.

Troll for victims.

There are many important lessons that can be learned from this case.

One of them is that we can't let the national focus that this case is brought upon child sexual abuse.

Days after these cameras are turned off and the media has shifted their attention to the next important story.

We have to continue to focus on child sexual abuse.

And to shine a bright light in those dark dark places.

Where the -- and -- -- of the world -- Places which definitely exist in our society.

We need to continue to protect our children and to learn from the lessons of this case.

And as for those who -- to respond to reports of child sexual abuse.

Their behavior is abominable.

And has tragic consequences.

For young victims like the ones that you heard from.

During the last two weeks.

These kids need our help they need our support.

And we as a society must not turn our backs -- close our eyes.

We're try to convince ourselves that it doesn't exist when it in fact does exist.

This is a law enforcement issue and every police department.

An investigative agency across the country.

Should take -- this case and ensure that every claim of child sexual abuse is addressed promptly and investigated thoroughly.

With the understanding that where there's one victim.

They're very likely are more.

This is also an institutional issue.

Every institution that comes into contact with children.

Should operate under the premise that it's their legal responsibility.

To report suspected child abuse.

The legal part of this is easy to -- But more importantly there's a moral and ethical imperative to do so.

Concealing or attempting to minimize this type of crime is unacceptable.

As well as unconscionable.

And should not and cannot be tolerated.

This is also a family issue.

And hopefully parents across the country will learn from this case how important it is to be vigilant about your child's.

Personal interactions with others to make sure.

That your child is conscious of their own safety and aware that they make it must report these types of incidents.

And finally this is a community issue because outside of our roles as prosecutors and police officers and professionals.

We all have an interest in keeping our communities.

And particularly our children safe and secure.

And protecting our children.

Who really are.

Truly are most valuable natural resource and they should always be our priority.

Every one of us has a responsibility to be aware of the possibility of this type of crime and to speak out if you know something troubling.

I thank all of you for your patience and your dedication and covering this case.

Your work your work.

Two has carried this story.

And the lessons that go hand in hand with it far beyond the borders -- Centre county and it's helped immeasurably to raise awareness.

About this kind of issue.

If there -- people out there watching right now who have been victims of sexual abuse.

As part of any case anywhere I encourage you to contact authorities.

In your community and seeing.

The support and assistance that you need.

There are no instant solutions to this problem but working together.

We can hope to make progress.

We could help the voices of victims be heard and we can try and drive away.

The demons and the darkness and lift the veil of secrecy that allows creditors to hide and to operate.

In our midst.

The Commonwealth's interest in the case like this in this kind of criminal prosecution.

It's not -- to win the case.

But to see that justice shall be done.

The twofold aim of which is that -- shall not escape.

-- innocents suffer.

Our goal here has always been.

To bring about -- fair and it just result in this case.

That goal has been accomplished.

With the jury's verdict today.

And we believe that justice has been served.

Thank you very much and I'd like to give.

State police your chance.

Think you have fun.

Thank you general -- my name is major Brett Wagoner the Pennsylvania state police on the director of the bureau of criminal investigation.

I stand here is represented for the commission -- state police colonel frank Noonan.

I -- -- the comments.

Offered up by general Kelley and I thank her and her agency.

For the cooperation we -- -- throughout this investigation.

I salute the prosecutors have prosecuted this case I think we all saw what this gentleman did and I salute him for about -- But there was a lot of other work by the prosecution that went unseen.

And that was mr.

frank CNN his staff to what they put together.

-- -- -- -- The officers and agents from the Pennsylvania state police attorney general side to this case.

They took it personal they were dedicated to it.

The last two weeks they've been away from their families many -- already headed down the highway.

To reunite with them.

I'm proud of them I'm proud of what they accomplished and the proud of their effort.

As a police officer who are in pretty quick.

That unique courage and ordered to do this job.

That doesn't mean you don't have fear that means you have to work through your fear and be courageous to do that job.

I submit to you what those -- young men did coming into this courthouse and work through their fear.

Your courage they show.

They are the heroes of this investigation.

And to them.

We want eternally be grateful thank you.

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