Jerry Sandusky Verdict: Penn State, Joe Paterno?s Family React

A multi-year grand jury investigation and months of filings were the subject of nine days of arguments and more than 20 hours of deliberations, which found former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky guilty on 45 counts of sexual abuse of young boys.

Sandusky was convicted Friday night after a raft of witnesses, including those who were allegedly abused, took the stand.

Sandusky didn't take the stand in his defense. He was held in custody, and it is believed he molested 10 boys over 15 years.

The boys were found through The Second Mile charity created in 1977 to help at-risk children.

The guilty verdict has drawn reactions from many who were part of Sandusky's life during his tenure at Penn State, as well as the governor of Pennsylvania. Here are some of the reactions to Sandusky's verdict:

Gov. Tom Corbett released the following statement via Facebook:

First, I want to thank the jury for their willingness to serve on such a difficult case. I also want to commend the multiple victims in this case who had the courage to come forward and testify in court, confronting Sandusky, and proving beyond a reasonable doubt that he is guilty of these reprehensible crimes. The agents and prosecutors of the Attorney General's Office, as well as the Pennsylvania State Police, also deserve a great deal of credit for today's verdict. They pursued every lead, gathering evidence from multiple victims, in order to bring this man to justice.

Penn State University and President Rodney Erickson issued the following:

The legal process has spoken and we have tremendous respect for the men who came forward to tell their stories publicly. No verdict can undo the pain and suffering caused by Mr. Sandusky, but we do hope this judgment helps the victims and their families along their path to healing.

The Board of Trustees and current administration maintain a steadfast commitment to pursuing the truth regarding Mr. Sandusky's actions. While we cannot change what happened, we can and do accept the responsibility to take action on the societal issue of child sexual abuse -- both in our community and beyond. The University is committed to ensuring that our campuses are safe for children and to being a constructive participant in building greater awareness of child sexual abuse and the practical steps that can be undertaken to prevent, report and respond to such abuse. (Read more.)

The Paterno family said: Although we understand the task of healing is just beginning, today's verdict is an important milestone. The community owes a measure of gratitude to the jurors for their diligent service. Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with the victims and their families.