BELLEFONTE — Jerry Sandusky has been doing a lot of praying, his attorney said early this evening inside the main courtroom while the jury deliberates his client's fate.

And if Sandusky is acquitted of all charges, his defense attorney Joe Amendola said, "I'll probably die of a heart attack."

The comments came as Amendola spoke to a small group of reporters in the main courtroom. Amendola was taken out of the courtroom at 5:34 p.m. by a Centre County sheriff's deputy, who said the judge wanted to see Amendola.

It wasn't immediately clear if Amendola had violated the gag order that forbids him from discussing the case with the media.

Before Amendola left, he said Sandusky is "very, very happy with the job we have done."

As for Amendola, he said he's faced a "daunting, daunting case" of defending Sandusky who went to trial facing 52 counts of child abuse. The number of counts now stands at 48.

"I did the best I could with the circumstances," he said.

Amendola has been working 18-hour days seven days a week lately, he said.

If Sandusky is convicted, prosecutors could ask for the judge to revoke his bail as he awaits sentencing. Amendola said Sandusky is spending time with his family because it could be the last time he sees them as a free man.

Mike Dawson can be reached at 231-4616. Follow him on Twitter @MikeDawsonCDT