Blank-faced Sandusky leaves home final time

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- He walked out of the side door of his house next to the garage, wearing a tan blazer and a blank expression. Jerry Sandusky had looked like this a lot in the courtroom these last two weeks, though occasionally he would break into a smile or a laugh with his lawyers.

But this time, about 9:25 Friday night, there was no emotion.

He was getting ready to go there to hear the outcome of his child sexual-abuse trial.

A couple of minutes earlier, Tom Smith, Centre County director of probation and parole, and an officer, Ron Millward, came to the front door. Sandusky's time was up.

When the charges were first announced and before the pretrial hearing, the street was at times flooded with media. Friday afternoon, three journalists and two families who live at the houses next door were the only people waiting outside.

The blinds were not drawn on one of the front room's windows. Sandusky sat inside, his white hair visible. Then at about 8 p.m., the downstairs lights went off. It was still, until after 9, when the lights came on again. Soon Sandusky left his house.

As the car took him away, lamps were ablaze above the garage, as though someone was expected to return.

Defense attorney Joe Amendola asked McKean County Senior Common Pleas Judge John M. Cleland to allow his client bail so he could remain under house arrest. It was denied. Sandusky wouldn't be coming back home.