In a rare moment of candor, Jerry Sandusky's attorney, Joe Amendola, admits that in all likelihood, his client is headed to prison.
As for Sandusky and his family, Amendola said he's given them an objective appraisal of what they could expect.
"I've used the best example I could use: climbing Mount Everest from the bottom of the mountain. It's a daunting, daunting case," he said.
"With 52 charges do you know what the odds are walking on all 48 or 52 charges? Very slim," Amendola said. "The likelihood is strong he will be convicted of something."
He also said that Sandusky had his wife, Dottie, talk to a criminal defense lawyer a couple months ago "just to be careful."
How certain is Amendola that Sandusky will be convicted on at least some of the charges? If Sandusky walks, Amendola says he'll "die of a heart attack." Ironic, since Amendola may very well have helped seal his client's fate by agreeing to a pair of horribly ill-advised interviews with NBC and the NYT.
It's rare to see this kind of candor from a defense attorney. Still, I'm hoping that if Sandusky isn't convicted on all charges, he's at least convicted on enough to put him behind bars for the rest of his life.
6:12 PM PT: Otteray Scribe mentions in the comments that Amendola may have skated very close to an ethical line by making such a statement. And MSNBC's Wes Oliver agrees.
6:36 PM PT: MSNBC reports the jury has reached a verdict.
7:04 PM PT: MSNBC legal analyst Kendall Coffey also says that it is highly unusual for Amendola to be this candid. However, he points out that Amendola didn't really make a dent in the prosecution's case.
7:13 PM PT: Looks like Amendola was a prophet. Sandusky is guilty on 45 out of 48 counts. Chances are that he will die in prison.