Sandusky to Go Straight to Trial After Waiving Preliminary Hearing

Former Pennsylvania State University football coach and accused child rapist Jerry Sandusky arrived at court for his preliminary hearing on more than 50 criminal counts Monday, and after a short meeting with his lawyers, waived his right to the evidentiary hearing.

Update (9:38 a.m. EST): Sandusky's attorney Joe Amendola is giving a press conference now. He said Sandusky decided late Monday night to waive the hearing. The reason is that Sandusky's defense will focus on the credibility of the witnesses against him, and the preliminary hearing wouldn't give them a chance to question that. Amendola said the prosecutor in the case told him he'd reject any questions having to do with witnesses' credibility.

Former Pennsylvania State University football coach and accused child rapist Jerry Sandusky arrived at court for his preliminary hearing on more than 50 criminal counts Monday, and after a short meeting with his lawyers, waived his right to the evidentiary hearing. A preliminary hearing to show there's enough evidence to move forward with a criminal case. Thanks to a judge's change of heart Monday, journalists are tweeting every detail as it happens, and Twitter just exploded with the news. "No hearing today. Case will head to Court of Common Pleas," tweeted the independent Penn State student newspaper the Daily Collegian. Reporters had been focusing on the details of Sandusky's manner, dress, and the fact he would see his alleged victims. "RT @annaorso: For the record, #Sandusky was wearing a suit and tie. Not a Penn State sweatsuit," tweeted the Harrisburg Patriot-News. And then on a more serious note: "Alleged victims are expected to testify today, and are expected to only be ID'd numerically." But that testimony will now be put off until Sandusky's main trial.  "If you're going to trial, as defense, you want every possible statement made. This is sure fire sign of plea deal," tweeted Nate Bauer, a writer for the sports site Blue White. If the case goes to trial, the witnesses will testify against Sandusky, but as the Patriot-News pointed out in a follow-up tweet, "Waiver means victims will only have to testify once in this case. They were ready to stand and testify."