Guest View
John Wetzler, a retired teacher, counselor, and coach who served Bellefonte Area High School for almost 48 years, testified as a character witness for Jerry Sandusky at his trial.
By John Wetzler
I knew Jerry `for many years before the trial. I worked with him at Penn State football camps, usually staying on the same floor in one of the dorms.
Jerry came to Bellefonte several times to watch our daughter play softball, and he and Dottie came to her final viewing in December 2006, after she passed away from melanoma cancer at the age of 27.
Before the trial, I received a call from one of Jerry’s incompetent lawyers asking me if I would be interested in being a character witness for Jerry.
Several people suggested I not get involved.
After a few nights of getting little sleep, I said I would.
I never heard back from the lawyer until he called me to tell me what date and time he wanted me to report to the courthouse to testify.
This was strange, since I expected he would give me some idea about the questions he planned to ask.
I reported as directed to the canopy behind the courthouse, and a sheriff’s deputy, who I knew, greeted me.
She said, “John, why are you here?”
I said to testify. She directed me towards the elevator.
When I got on the elevator, I saw a former Penn State football player who drove in from New Jersey to testify for Jerry.
Another sheriff’s deputy sat outside the courtroom when we exited the elevator. I had coached his daughter in softball a few years before.
He also asked, “John, what are you doing here?”
“I’m here to testify for Jerry.”
He said to have a seat, and we sat on a bench.
After a few minutes, the deputy said to the former player, “You are up.”
He went in the door to the courtroom. He returned in no more than two minutes.
I thought, “Wow, he drove in from New Jersey for that.”
The deputy said to me, “You are next.”
I opened the door and saw a wall of humanity before me. To my right was the jury box. To my left was the judge and Jerry, along with his attorney.
Directly in front of me were the prosecutors.
I took the oath to tell the truth and sat down.
Amendola asked me the following question:.
- State your full name and address.
- Where do you work?
- What was the community’s perception of Jerry before the trial?
- How do you know Jerry?
No further questions.
I responded that I was in the basement for a birthday party.
No further questions.
I was dismissed and went out the door from which I came in.
The media were waiting for people to come out of the court. I asked the deputy what the fastest way out was besides the front door. I exited the side door and avoided the cameras.
When I got to my car, I asked myself, “What was the point of testifying? How could any of my answers help Jerry?”
Matt Sandusky
I learned from reading your articles that Jerry didn’t testify at trial based on the advice of his attorney and because of his adopted son, Matt Sandusky.
Amendola could have asked me about Matt.
I was Matt’s guidance counselor and football coach at Bellefonte High School before Jerry adopted him.
Jerry would come to school, and I would get Matt out of class to meet with Jerry.
Jerry and I went to Matt’s house one day because he wasn’t in school. We went through 10-12 inches of snow across a field to check on him. One Saturday, Jerry and Matt came to my house to help with some landscaping.
Never once did Matt say to me, I don’t want to see him, or he’s done bad things to me. NEVER.
As a guidance counselor, I’m a mandated reporter. I’m 100% sure Jerry never abused Matt.
Freeh Not Interested
In 2012, the Freeh group contacted me. They told me they would like to meet with me and would need 30 minutes of my time to answer some questions about Jerry and the scandal.
When I told the investigator from the Freeh Group that I didn’t have time today, they asked, “What do you think about Jerry and what happened?”
I said I felt he was innocent and the accusations were false.
They never called back.
I also received a message from Piers Morgan asking me to call him to discuss the case. I never called him back.
Editor’s Note: Check out this short film:
Please leave a comment: Your opinion is important to us!
John Galluppi can’t even raise the dead.
201 days ago
It’s obvious that Jerry Sandusky is innocent. JusticeforJer
Sandy Lane
7 days ago
Reply to Anonymous
The ‘boys’ when they testified at trial were 20-something MEN with no direction or higher education. They saw FREE money, with no vetting whatsoever, from Penn State. They are now in their 30s and multimillionaires. ……and, they lied.
1
Reply
https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/bd56b991a58d90560d9856493e29c60c?s=64&d=identicon&r=g
Anonymous
4 minutes ago
Awaiting for approval
Reply to Sandy Lane
Not one Negro came forward to lie. I think old Jer likes em tight and white
Just another example of Amendola’s an effect of representation of his client. Frank, keep proclaiming the Sandusky story loud and clear!
The prosecutors: Frank Fins and Joe McGettigan- criminals
Thank you Frank for once again giving a fuck about the innocent who have been silenced by money.
Praying for you every day.
All the evidence to free Sandusky is clearly documented from multiple sources.
Anyone with integrity would give this man a new trial.
Jerry is a targeted individual – trashed by media. Sacrificed by a court of actors.
Happens everyday in America.
Lives of innocence destroyed! All for money streams and vindication.
Look at Parlato’s case – innocent railroaded by vendettas.
Political motives rule our courts – family court, criminal court- the game is the same.
Frank- Do you know how many Sandusky witnesses like John Wetzler appeared to testify and were given meaningless questions?
Where Amendola merely checked the box instead of helping defend Jerry?
Were these same witnesses even mentioned in the Freeh report?
So nice to see articles like this. Keep them coming!
They didn’t want to interview who knew the REAL Jerry Sandusky. That was completely against their objective. Scum.
Mr. Wetzler speaks the truth. Everyone needs to read and listen to his story.
John is such a special person. He has touched so many young people. Hopefully people will listen to his story.
How many young people did he touch?
Keep physically and mentally strong, don’t do drugs, don’t have sex outside of marriage. Thousands. And for imparting good morals, our disgusting society had to slaughter him to make way for the era of degenerates. “V2” writes:
[…] Wetzler mentioned in his guest view, High School Coach Supports Sandusky, that he was Matt Sandusky’s guidance counselor, and he is sure Jerry Sandusky never abused […]
First, a personal note to John. No parent should lose a child like you did. I’ve heard people say, “ I know how you feel”, well, no we don’t unless you’ve lost someone. Our hope is that it gets a little easier every day for you. That Jerry and Dottie were there for you in your hour of need, does it surprise anyone? Nope! Reading how you were treated at the trial and the former player as well, makes me sick to my stomach. It was a circus atmosphere and Amendola did nothing but contribute as the chief clown. Sorry you had to experience that but thank you for your truth.
The more Frank reports the more clear it becomes that Amendola was never fighting to help Jerry Sandusky. How could this possibly be a fair trial when your own legal counsel is either incompetent or playing for the opposition?