Jerry Sandusky trial: Three counts dismissed by judge before closing arguments

Former assistant football coach for Penn State Jerry Sandusky has been on trial this week for the 51 child sex-abuse charges against him from various boys he mentored via the Second Mile program in the 1990s. Thursday (June 21) Judge John Cleland had three of the charges dismissed before the attorneys started their closing arguments, reports the AP.

The judge found one count of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and one count of aggravated indecent assault stemming from Victim 4 were not support by the evidence. The judge detailed that the two counts leveled by Victim 4 were dismissed because Victim 4 admitted that Sandusky attempted to penetrate him, but did not say that penetration had actually occurred. Another charge of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse involving another boy was dismissed because the judge says it duplicates another count.

Sandusky still faces 48 criminal counts that involve 10 different alleged victims. Jurors will hear closing arguments Thursday morning and could begin their deliberations as early as Thursday afternoon.