Image Source: The New York Times

BY LAUREN ZIMA

ANCHOR BLAKE HANSON

Former Penn State defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky stands accused of 40 counts of child abuse, and in a second attempt to repair his image, he’s declaring his innocence in an on-camera interview with The New York Times.

“I didn’t do those things.”

With his lawyer present, Sandusky addressed his now infamous phone interview with Bob Costas, in which, when asked if he is sexually attracted to young boys, he paused -- and didn’t deny it.

SANDUSKY: “I’m sitting there saying, ‘What in the world is this question? If I say, ‘No, I’m not attracted to boys,’ that’s not the truth, because I’m attracted to young people -- boys, girls.”
LAWYER: “Yeah, but not sexually. You’re attracted because you enjoy spending time.”
SANDUSKY: “Right -- that’s what I was trying to say. I enjoy spending time with young people.”

MSNBC says these interviews could give Sandusky major problems in court.

“He makes some important admissions. He talks about how he gave them gifts, golf clubs, computers. He says it shows how much he cares about these kids. But prosecutors are going to say it fits a pattern -- he was targeting these kids. There are very few defense lawyers who would let their clients do interviews like this. “

But perhaps the biggest development from this latest interview could also mean bad news for legendary Penn State coach Joe Paterno. Sandusky told The Times that Paterno never talked to him about allegations that he had abused children.

ABC News spoke with ESPN’s legal analyst about Sandusky’s case and the possibility of a civil lawsuit against Paterno.

“What this case has come down to is going to be a he-said versus what the young boys say.”
“A civil lawsuit, at least, is that Paterno, Penn State and everybody that was involved had knowledge and should have done something to stop this -- should have kept this guy of the school grounds, should have kept him away from the team. So it does become damaging, I think.”

In more news on the case, The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review is reporting that attorneys for the two Penn State administrators who are charged with failing to report a sex crime allegation have announced they plan to tarnish the credibility of assistant coach Mike McQueary, a key witness for the prosecution.

The Tribune-Review quotes one attorney.

"If it were true that Mr. McQueary actually observed Mr. Sandusky sodomizing a 10-year-old boy in the shower, any information that depicts Mr. McQueary socializing with Mr. Sandusky at any time after the alleged 2002 incident raises doubts about Mr. McQueary's grand jury testimony …”