Al Pacino and Brian De Palma Team Up for Joe Paterno Biopic

The two worked together on 'Scareface' and 'Carlito's Way'

Al Pacino and director Brian De Palma are expected to reunite for the upcoming film about Penn State coach Joe Paterno. The duo previously worked together on 1983’s “Scarface” and 1993’s “Carlito’s Way." The tentatively tilted “Happy Valley” Paterno movie will be a “story of a complex, intensely righteous man who was brought down by his own tragic flaw,” said producer Edward R. Pressman. David McKenna, screenwriter for “American History X,” is reportedly in talks with Pressman. De Palma was also behind “Carrie,” The Untouchables,” and “Mission; Impossible.”

Hall of Fame Penn State Coach Joe Paterno was caught in the middle of a controversy in 2011 when his assistant coach Jerry Sandusky was convicted of child molestation. (CBS News)

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Judge Hears Sandusky’s Plea for New Trial

The former Penn State coach was convicted of 45 counts of child sexual abuse.

Lawyers for former Penn State assistant coach Jerry Sandusky have made their arguments to a judge about the fairness of his trial, but no ruling has been issued. Sandusky was convicted in June of 45 counts of child sexual abuse. The proceeding Thursday relate to his claims that his lawyers didn’t have enough time to prepare for his trial. Unless Sandusky can convince a court to release him, the 68-year-old will spend 30-to-60 years in state prison.

In 2011, following a two-year grand jury investigation, Sandusky was arrested and charged for sexually abusing young boys over a 15-year period. Longtime Penn State head coach, Joe Paterno, was ousted after getting caught in the crossfire of the scandal. (AP)

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Jerry Sandusky Letters to Court Made Public

The former Penn State coach and his wife blamed victims for sex-abuse conviction, claimed massive conspiracy

In letters to the judge in charge of his sentencing, former Penn State football coach Jerry Sandusky did not ask for leniency, but instead took the opportunity to blame everyone involved except himself.

The letters were made public today and in them Sandusky takes the opportunity to decry the media, Penn State, the judicial system, prosecutors, his victims and their families.

"I have been blamed for all of their failures and shortcomings, but nobody mentioned the impact of people who had much more contact with them than I did," he wrote.

[FULL COVERAGE:  PENN STATE SEX ABUSE SCANDAL]

Sandusky went on to say that his victims "have been rewarded for forgetting, fabricating, and exaggerating."

The letters were written to Judge John Cleland who on Tuesday sentenced Sandusky to 30 to 60 years in prison.

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Sandusky Sentenced to 30 to 60 Years

Child sex abuser and former assistant Penn State coach will likely die in prison

A judge today sentenced Jerry Sandusky, the former Penn State assistant football coach convicted of 45 counts of child sex abuse charges, to 30 to 60 years in prison. The sentence means that the 68-year-old will likely die in jail.

Defiant to the end, Sandusky, in a recorded statement, blamed his conviction on a conspiracy between the victims, law enforcement officials and the media.  

"They can take away my life, they can make me out as a monster, they can treat me as a monster, but they can't take away my heart," Sandusky said. "[My accusers were part of a] well-orchestrated effort of the media, investigators, the system, Penn State, psychologists (and) civil attorneys." 

[ALSO READ: LOOP21'S COVERAGE OF PENN STATE SEX ABUSE SCANDAL]

Sandusky was convicted in June of abusing 10 boys over a span of 15 years. The case rocked the storied Penn State football program, leading to the ouster of its beloved head coach Joe Paterno and Penn State being punished with harsh sanctions. 

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