CAMP HILL, Pa.

Sandusky leaves county jail, enters state prison system

Jerry Sandusky became a state prison inmate Tuesday with his transfer out of the Centre County jail, his home since he was convicted in June of child molestation.

The 68-year-old former Penn State assistant coach arrived early in the morning at the State Correctional Institute at Camp Hill, just outside Harrisburg, a state prison system spokeswoman said.

He faces testing and evaluation that will take a week or more before he can be assigned a security risk level and sent to one of the state facilities as his “home” prison. At Camp Hill, experts will assess his mental state, physical health and education level, and determine whether he needs treatment.

Sandusky was sentenced this month to 30 to 60 years for sexual abuse of 10 boys over a 15-year period. He has repeatedly asserted his innocence and last week filed post-sentencing motions, seeking to have convictions thrown out or a new trial.

If the judge rules against Sandusky, the defense will then have a month in which to appeal to Superior Court.

There are about 6,800 sex offenders serving time in Pennsylvania’s prison system. The Corrections Department does not maintain special units for sex offenders.

Also Tuesday, a book by Aaron Fisher that recounts his abuse by Sandusky was published. “Silent No More” describes how Fisher’s claims first came to light at his school district a half-hour northeast of State College, triggering the investigation that produced charges nearly a year ago.

FARMINGTON, N.M.

Stranded paraplegic drags himself for 3 days in desert

A paraplegic man who says he was stranded in the New Mexico desert without his wheelchair dragged himself four miles down a dirt road for three days before he found help.

The Farmington Times reported that 49-year-old Ricky Gilmore was found last week on Tocito Road, about 30 miles south of Shiprock.

He is being treated at the Northern Navajo Medical Center for acute kidney failure from dehydration, a sprained wrist and a blood infection.

Gilmore said he was dropped in the desert by a couple in a white truck whom he met while he was hitchhiking. He said three vehicles passed him while he was struggling to get help.

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif.

Surfer killed by shark that bit his upper torso

A surfer was killed Tuesday by a shark off a beach at Vandenberg Air Force Base following a summer of shark sightings along California’s Central Coast, authorities said.

Francisco Javier Solorio Jr., 39, of Orcutt was killed in the attack off the coast of Surf Beach in Lompoc, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department said in a statement.

He was bitten by the shark in his upper torso.