Gerald “Jerry” Sandusky, former Penn State University football defensive coordinator, arriving for sentencing at Centre County Courthouse, Bellefonte, Pennsylvania. (AP photo)

BELLEFONTE, Pa. (AP) – Jerry Sandusky has been sentenced to at least 30 years in prison in the child sexual abuse scandal that brought shame to Penn State and led to coach Joe Paterno’s downfall.

The sentence means the 68-year-old former Penn State assistant coach will be in prison at least until he’s nearly 100 years old.

Judge John Cleland issued the sentence Tuesday, three months after a jury convicted Sandusky on 45 counts of child sexual abuse.

Sandusky maintains his innocence and plans to appeal, a process his lawyer has said will probably begin in the coming weeks. Sandusky says he is not a monster and says he didn’t do the “alleged disgusting acts.”