(Image source: The Patriot-News)

BY LAUREN ZIMA

Former Penn State defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky has given his first interview since being accused of sexually assaulting eight young boys over a 15-year span.

Sandusky is charged in a 40-count indictment, but in an interview with Bob Costas on NBC’s Rock Center, Sandusky declares his complete innocence, and says he is not a pedophile.

SANDUSKY: "Well I could say that, you know, I have done some of those things. I have horsed around with kids. I have showered after workouts. I have hugged them and I have touched their leg without intent of sexual contact.”

"Am I sexually attracted to underage boys? Sexually attracted? You know, I enjoy young people. I love to be around them. But no, I’m not sexually attracted to young boys."

Sandusky also addressed the now infamous shower incident -- Penn State assistant coach Mike McQueary says he witnessed Sandusky molesting a young boy in a Penn State shower. Sandusky told Costas that what McQueary heard and saw was just friendly towel-snapping.

But the 67-year-old’s declaration isn’t flying with The Washington Post. Writes one blogger:

“To my ear it was a near confession. … Made some mistakes, but it ain’t like they say. Just some horseplay there. That slapping sound, that was just towel-snapping like what happens in every locker room. The Towel-Snapping Defense. Wow.”

Sandusky’s attorney, Joseph Amendola, was present for the phone interview and also spoke with Costas. He says Sandusky is innocent, and that they’ve found the boy from the shower incident, who was previously unidentified. Amendola says the boy, now a man in his 20s, will testify that he was not molested by Sandusky. Blog OutSports.com points out that, whether Sandusky is innocent or not, this case will be a tough one.

“Sandusky is innocent until proven guilty … I am not sure how he will sway a jury or a judge that it was totally innocent and normal for a grown man to be horsing around in the shower with boys. However, proving a sexual assault will take testimony from victims, some of whom might not be eager to have their names and life histories made public.”

The New York Times is now reporting that 10 additional suspected victims have come forward to authorities since Sandusky’s November 5 arrest, and that their allegations are being investigated.