Sandusky’s adopted son also a molestation victim, attorney says

Jurors in the Jerry Sandusky trial began deliberating on Thursday afternoon as reports surfaced that one of the former coach's adopted sons claimed he, too, was a molestation victim.

Matt Sandusky, through his attorney Andrew Shubin, told The Patriot-News that he met with prosecutors about the allegations for the first time this week and was prepared to testify against his adoptive father if necessary.

MSNBC reported that the testimony was one of several factors that kept Jerry Sandusky off the witness stand.

"During the trial, Matt Sandusky contacted us and requested our advice and assistance in arranging a meeting with prosecutors to disclose for the first time in this case that he is a victim of Jerry Sandusky's abuse," Shubin said, according to CBS News. "At Matt's request, we immediately arranged a meeting between him and the prosecutors and investigators."

“This has been an extremely painful experience for Matt and he has asked us to convey his request that the media respect his privacy. There will be no further comment,” Shubin said in a statement.

According to CBS News, soon after Sandusky's arrest in November, Matt Sandusky's ex-wife Jill Jones obtained a restraining order to keep her three children from sleeping over at their grandparents' home.

Earlier Thursday, Judge John Cleland dismissed three of the 51 counts against the former Penn State football coach, the Associated Press reported.

The judge threw out two counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse related to the alleged sexual abuse of Victim 4, saying that the charges did not align with the victim's testimony. He also dismissed a charge he said was a duplicate of another count, the AP reported. 

The jurors are deliberating after hearing a week of testimony that included eight of Sandusky's 10 victims, his wife Dottie, and Penn State assistant coach Mike McQueary, according to the AP. Sandusky, who now faces 48 charges, did not take the stand. 

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Included in the charges are nine counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, which carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, the Los Angeles Times reported. 

During his closing remarks, Sandusky's defense attorney Joe Amendola argued that the testimony from McQueary — who said he saw Sandusky sodomizing a boy in a Penn State shower — was inconsistent, CNN reported. Amendola also continued his argument that the prosecution lacked physical evidence, and that the alleged victims were opportunists conspiring for financial gain, according to CNN. 

"They went after him, and I submit to you they were going to get him hell or high water, even if they had to coach witnesses," Amendola said in his closing arguments, ABC News reported.

More from GlobalPost: Defense rests in Jerry Sandusky trial; former coach won't testify

"The great thing about conspiracy theories is you just let them go on and on, until they collapse under their own weight," lead prosecutor Joseph McGettigan said in his closing remarks, in response to Amendola's case, CNN reported. "The Commonwealth has overwhelming evidence against Mr. Sandusky." 

McGettigan painted Sandusky as a "predatory pedophile" who took advantage of his access to young boys through his charity, the Second Mile.