Sandusky Convicted on 45 Sex Abuse Charges

BELLEFONTE, Penn. (TheStreet) -- A Pennsylvania jury Friday found former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky guilty of 45 of 48 child sex abuse charges, according to published media reports.

The scandal surrounding the case rocked the university and led to the firing of Penn State's longtime head football coach, the late Joe Paterno, and the resignation of Penn State president Graham Spanier.

Sandusky, 68, faces potential prison sentences totaling hundreds of years, Reuters reported.

The charges on which Sandusky was convicted related to the molestation of 10 boys over 15 years, Reuters noted.

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Sandusky's defense attorney, Joe Amendola, said he was considering the grounds for a possible appeal, Reuters added.

Former head coach Paterno came under fire when it emerged that he hadn't gone to state or federal authorities after a graduate assistant, Mike McQueary, told him in 2002 that he had seen Sandusky with a young boy in the football complex's showers.

According to a grand jury investigation report, Paterno the next day told the university's athletic director, Tim Curley, about the incident. He also notified Gary Schultz, the university official who was in charge of the school's police.

But neither Curley nor Schultz informed law enforcement officials of the incident, and both have been indicted on perjury charges related to the Sandusky case.