Ben Andreozzi’s client — the individual identified as “Victim 4” in the Jerry Sandusky case — said he still plans to testify against the former assistant football coach, according to a handwritten statement read by Andreozzi.

The attorney read the statement on behalf of his client in front of a crowd of hundreds of media members Tuesday after Sandusky waived his right to a preliminary hearing.

In the statement, Andreozzi’s client said he “can’t put into words” the effect the alleged abuse has had on his life, and he “can’t believe they put [the witnesses] through this until the last second only to waive the hearing.”

Andreozzi said he heard rumors Sandusky would waive the hearing at about 8:15 a.m. Tuesday, 15 minutes before Sandusky’s hearing was scheduled to begin.

When Andreozzi’s client heard that Sandusky waived his hearing at about 8:30 a.m., he felt a sense of “relief,” Andreozzi said. Prior to the decision, Andreozzi said his client was scheduled to be the first witness to testify.

“I will still stand my ground, testify and speak the truth,” Andreozzi’s client said in his statement.

After reading the statement to the crowd gathered in front of the Centre County Courthouse in Bellefonte, Andreozzi said he wishes he had the opportunity to rebut each statement Joe Amendola, Sandusky’s attorney, said during his nearly one-hour press conference following the hearing.

Attorney Michael Boni, who took to the lectern before Amendola spoke, said he had dinner with his client — a man known as “Victim 1” in the grand jury presentment — and his client’s mother on Monday night. Boni said the man was ready to testify at Tuesday’s hearing.

The man was not brought to the courthouse Tuesday because he heard Sandusky would waive his preliminary hearing late Monday night, Boni said.

But Boni said the waived hearing was “terrific” for his client and the other boys in the grand jury report, as they would not have to relive the horrors of the alleged abuse testifying on the witness stand.

Boni said he hoped the waiving of the hearing was an indicator of a plea bargain that could take place.

Slade McLaughlin, another attorney for the person identified as “Victim 1,” said that some of those Sandusky is charged with abusing were notified this morning that the hearing would be waived and they would not have to testify.

He said he was experiencing “a little bit of shock” and “a little bit of outrage” when he heard the hearing was waived. He said he thinks Amendola “should have had the courtesy” to alert those who were planning to testify sooner.

McLaughlin said, in his opinion, waiving the preliminary hearing weakened Sandusky’s case. He said Amendola “punched no holes” in the accusers’ stories like he previously said he planned to do at the preliminary hearing.

He said his client will only be satisfied if Sandusky goes to jail for a long time. McLaughlin also said he expects some sort of plea agreement in the future.

He said his client, who is currently 18-years-old, will testify at the trial when it comes time.

Tom Farrell and Caroline Roberto — the attorneys for former Interim Senior Vice President for Finance and Business Gary Schultz and former Athletic Directory Tim Curley, respectively — were present in the courtroom when Sandusky waived. Schultz and Curley are each charged with perjury and failure to report abuse in connection with the Sandusky case and will have their own preliminary hearings on Friday in Harrisburg.

“There’ll be a hearing [Friday], I can’t say anything else,” Farrell said, before ducking into a nearby drugstore in Bellefonte with Roberto.

Farrell and Roberto did not comment further regarding whether their clients will definitively go on with their preliminary hearings scheduled for Friday.

Andrew Shubin, a State College lawyer who has not disclosed which witness he represents in the Sandusky case, released a statement following the waiving of the hearing, saying he was not surprised about the decision.

“It’s long past time for Sandusky to step up and accept responsibility for the devastation he has caused the victims, their families and our community,” Shubin said according to the release.

Collegian Staff Writers Anna Orso, Kristin Stoller, Mindy Szkaradnik and Jessica Tully contributed to this report.