Press Box: Judge refuses request to dismiss Sandusky charges
A Pennsylvania judge on Thursday denied Jerry Sandusky's request for a dismissal of criminal charges in a child sex-abuse case and then adjourned a pretrial hearing because a grand jury is still investigating the former Penn State assistant football coach.
Judge John Cleland said it was too early to rule on all the charges and he will allow defense attorney Joe Amendola to raise the dismissal issue at a later time.
Amendola withdrew a request to reject evidence that had been obtained through electronic intercepts of phone conversations between two alleged victims and Sandusky.
Sandusky is charged with 52 counts of sexual abuse involving 10 boys and is scheduled to go on trial June 5.
---USC added a significant talent to its 2013 recruiting class when Sammamish (Wash.) Skyline quarterback Max Browne chose the Trojans over Alabama, Oklahoma and Washington.
Browne is considered one of the nation's top prep passers after he completed 70 percent of his passes for 4,034 yards and 45 touchdowns as a junior.
He made the announcement during a Wednesday news conference at his high school.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
---Murray State point guard Isaiah Canaan told a radio station that he will return to the Racers for his senior season, but Syracuse junior Fab Melo announced on Thursday that he will enter the NBA Draft.
North Carolina sophomore James Michael also announced through the school on Thursday that he will return to college next season.
Murray, a junior, told Jeff Goodman on SiriusXM's Inside College Basketball that he will be back at Murray state next season after helping the Racers go 31-2 this past season.
Canaan averaged 19 points and 3.6 assists and was projected to be taken late in the first round or earlhy in the second if he entered the draft this year.
Melo, a 7-foot sophomore Brazil, twice had to sit out segments of the 2011-2012 season because of academic problems. He was ruled ineligible for the NCAA Tournament At the moment, he is projected to be taken late in the first round of the NBA Draft or early in the second.
BOXING
---Former boxing champion Oscar De La Hoya had a lawsuit against him dismissed on Thursday after the judge ruled that the accusations of woman were "frivolous," the New York Post reported.
As a result, Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Paul Wooten ordered Angelica Cecora to pay $500 in court fees and pay De La Hoya's legal fees.
The incident in question took place March 15 of last year. Cecora said she went to De La Hoya's hotel room, where they had sexual relations, and drugs were delivered to De La Hoya, according to court documents. De La Hoya later tried to wake her up for more sexual activity, but she refused, and she claimed that was battery.
De La Hoya's lawyer claimed the charge had no merit, because his client's "touching of plaintiff, a prostitute, in the context of a night of sexual activity, cannot be deemed offensive." The judge agreed.
NHL
--- The Pittsburgh Penguins will be without three players - forwards James Neal and Steve Sullivan and defenseman Matt Niskanen - for Thursday's game against the New York Rangers, and all three may miss the regular-season finale against the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday.
However, coach Dan Bylsma said all three are expected to be ready to play when the Stanley Cup playoffs begin next week.
Neal has 40 goals and 41 assists this season, while Sullivan has 17 goals and 31 assists. Niskanen has four goals and 17 assists.
HORSE RACING
--Jockey Joe Talamo rode his 1,000th career winner in the fourth race at Santa Anita. Talamo was on top of Splendid Fortune when it finished first Thursday. Jockey Mike Smith was second, and was stuck three wins shy of 5,000 victories.
