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 is professing his innocence, says he is not a monster and says he didn't do the "alleged disgusting acts."
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)