BELLEFONTE, Pa. (June 21, 2012)—Jurors were deliberating Thursday afternoon in the child sexual abuse trial of former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky, who could be sentenced to life in prison if convicted.

The jury began deliberations following closing arguments.

Sandusky is accused of the sexual abuse of 10 boys over a 15-year period, allegations he's consistently denied.

Sandusky didn't take the stand on his own behalf.

Eight young men testified for the prosecution that they were his victims.

Jurors also heard about two other alleged victims through other witnesses.

Prosecutors called Sandusky a serial predator.

Defense lawyers suggested the accusers were coached and have a financial motive to make up stories years after the fact.

Earlier Thursday, trial Judge John Cleland threw out three of the 51 charges in the case, leaving the former coach facing 48 counts.

Cleland dismissed two counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse related to the alleged sexual abuse of an accuser known as Victim 4.

He said the charges did not bear out what testimony revealed.

In his ruling, released Thursday morning, Cleland says he would have been required to set aside any convictions on those counts, because "the verdict was not supported by the evidence."

He also dismissed a count that he says was the same as another charge.

Cleland also ruled against a defense motion to dismiss five counts related to a boy who was allegedly seen with Sandusky by a janitor.