BELLEFONTE, Pa. (WHTM) -
In the final hearing before Jerry Sandusky's child sexual abuse trial begins next week, Judge John Cleland listened to arguments over whether he should dismiss charges related to victims 2, 6, and 8.
Arguments at the pretrial hearing Wednesday essentially surrounded a defense request to dismiss charges related to Victim 8. Cleland said he did not need to hear further testimony regarding a petition to drop charges related to alleged victims 2 and 6.
Cleland said the motion to drop charges was related to the sufficiency of evidence, which is something that should have been cleared up during the initial preliminary hearing, which Sandusky chose to waive.
The judge has not ruled on any of the motions.
Sandusky's attorney, Joe Amendola, said the charges related to Victim 8 should be dropped since the only witness to the alleged abuse is unable to testify. The witness was a janitor who now has dementia.
However, state prosecutors said the charges should stay because the grand jury testimony of the janitor is not their only evidence regarding Victim 8.
The hearing ended without a decision from the judge, but prosecutors and defense attorneys were set to meet privately with the judge. The meeting came after a request by Amendola to discuss events related to "last night," likely referring to a meeting at the courthouse Tuesday between Sandusky, his defense team, prosecutors and Cleland.
The judge announced Wednesday morning that he was denying Sandusky's request to delay the trial. Jury selection is scheduled to begin June 5th, with opening arguments expected on June 11th.
