Sandusky denies at appeals hearing that he molested boys

BELLEFONTE, Pa. (AP) — Jerry Sandusky took the stand today to forcefully deny the child-molestation charges he was convicted of four years ago and say it wasn't his idea to waive his right to testify during his trial.

The former Penn State assistant football coach testified for an hour during an appeals hearing in which he's hoping to have his 45-count conviction thrown out or get a new trial. The 72-year-old argued during a hearing in the courthouse near State College that he wasn't properly represented by his legal team. The hearing is scheduled to continue Aug. 22 and Aug. 23.

Today, he told the court he learned he would be doing an NBC television interview just minutes before it occurred and that his defense lawyer strongly advised him against taking the stand to reject claims that he had molested boys.

Sandusky said he was caught off guard when he was asked in the NBC interview about whether he was sexually attracted to children, to which he responded, "sexually attracted, you know, I enjoy young people. I love to be around them. But no, I'm not sexually attracted to young boys."

He was "absolutely surprised," Sandusky testified. "I didn't expect anything that happened. I was not in a good emotional state."