BELLEFONTE, PA -- Jerry Sandusky, the former Penn State University staff member accused of molesting several young boys, has waived his preliminary hearing.

The Associated Press reports this decision moves Sandusky closer to a trial and prevents him from facing his accusers.

The accusers were expected to be in the courtroom Tuesday morning.  According to the USA Today, Sandusky knew the accusers would be in the room, but originally told his lawyer, Joseph Amendola, that he wanted to “lock witnesses into testimony and learn more details about the government’s case.”  However, Sandusky and Amendola switched gears and moments after arriving in the courtroom, waived their right to the hearing. 

Fox News reports there were at least ten accusers in the courtroom waiting to testify against Sandusky. 

ABC News reports that since the preliminary hearings were waved, the alleged victims will not have to testify until the trial.