Sandusky, 75, was sentenced by Judge Maureen Skerda at the Centre County Courthouse in Bellefonte. He wore a yellow jumpsuit and entered court with his hands cuffed in front of him.
[Ads /]
Sandusky again asserted his innocence, choked up twice in brief remarks to the judge and told his supporters he loves them.
A state appeals court this year turned down most of Sandusky's arguments seeking a new trial but said laws mandating sentence minimums in place at the time of his October 2012 sentencing had since changed.
- Pennsylvania moves to raise smoking age to 21
Under the new law, according to Jacklin Rhoads, a spokeswoman for Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro, a jury would not have the power to go below the minimum sentence.
The Superior Court opinion in February cited a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that said any fact that increases the sentence for a given crime must be submitted to jurors and established beyond a reasonable doubt.
Sandusky was convicted of 45 counts of child sexual abuse in 2012 and sentenced to 30 to 60 years. Skerda's new sentence was the same.
[Ads /]
Eight young men testified during the 2012 trial that Sandusky, who founded a charity for at-risk youth, subjected them to a range of abuse, from grooming to violent attacks.
Sandusky has maintained his innocence, and his lawyers in October initiated a federal court action seeking a new trial or release from prison.
- Group of teens stole bike, vandalized store, attack woman in Philadelphia: Police
His November 2011 arrest prompted the firing of Hall of Fame head coach Joe Paterno and the ousting of then-university President Graham Spanier.
The university has subsequently paid more than $100 million to people who said they had been abused by Sandusky.