Bellefonte, PA (Sports Network) - Jerry Sandusky was found guilty Friday night on 45 of the 48 counts charging him with sexual abuse against 10 boys over a 15-year period.

The verdict was reached at the end of the second day of jury deliberations and came more than seven months after Sandusky was first arrested in the case that rocked Penn State, where he was a former assistant football coach, and cast a pall over the area linked so firmly to the university.

Applause was heard outside the courtroom as word spread of the verdict after court was adjourned shortly after 10 p.m. local time.

Sandusky denied the charges that he systematically groomed victims through his Second Mile charity.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Linda Kelly called Sandusky "a serial child predator" who "has been held accountable for his crimes" while defense attorney Joe Amendola said the verdict didn't prove his client was sick or guilty, saying there were a lot of innocent people in jail around the country.

06/22 22:57:00 ET