Jerry Sandusky's Wife Issues Statement On "False Accusations," Says She "Continues To Believe" In Husband's Innocence

Jerry Sandusky's wife, Dottie, was implicated in accusations against her husband for the first time yesterday after her husband was re-arrested on additional charges and the second grand jury presentment was made public.

In the filing, "Victim 9" testified that Jerry Sandusky attempted to anally rape him "on at least sixteen occasions" and said that "on at least one occasion he screamed for help, knowing that Sandusky's wife was upstairs, but no one ever came to help him." Victim 9 also implied that he was kept in the basement at the Sandusky home and rarely interacted with his wife. Today, Dottie Sandusky released a public statement through her and her husband's attorney, Joe Amendola, and called the allegations—specifically that she ignored a child's cries for help—"absolutely untrue":

I want to thank our children, our family, our extended family of former Second Mile participants, and all our friends for standing by us through these difficult times. Jerry and I want to express our sorrow for all the hurt that has come to those who have supported us and our beloved Penn State and State College Communities.

I have been shocked and dismayed by the allegations made against Jerry, particularly the most recent one that a now young man has said he was kept in our basement during visits and screamed for help as Jerry assaulted him while I was in our home and didn't respond to his cries for help.

As the mother of six children, I have been devastated by these accusations. I am also angry about these false accusations that such a terrible incident ever occurred in my home. No child who ever visited our home was ever forced to stay in our basement and fed there. All the kids who visited us ate with us and our kids and other guests when they were at our home. Our children, our extended family and friends know how much Jerry and I love kids and have always tried to help and care for them. We would never do anything to hurt them. I am so sad anyone would make such a terrible accusation which is absolutely untrue. We don't know why these young men have made these false accusations, but we want everyone to know they are untrue.

I continue to believe in Jerry's innocence and all the good things he has done. Jerry's many success stories with his Second Mile kids and positive memories of those kids keep me going. I am asking everyone to please be reasonable and open-minded until both sides of this case are heard, and Jerry has the opportunity to prove his innocence.

I would like to thank all those individuals who continue to support Jerry and hope they will continue to support us through the conclusion of this very sad time in our lives.

Dottie Sandusky

Jerry Sandusky was released from jail on bail earlier today.

[ StateCollege.com; photo via Centre Daily Times]