Judge to Hear Recantation of Sexual Abuse Allegations Against Ex-Penn State Coach Jerry Sandusky

POLICY WIRE — Centre County, Pennsylvania — A judge has agreed to a hearing to examine claims that a man wishes to retract his allegations of sexual abuse by former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky.

Sandusky, now 82, has been serving a lengthy prison sentence since his conviction on 45 counts of sexual abuse in 2012. Eight young men testified against him during the trial.

Despite multiple failed attempts to secure a new trial, Sandusky’s legal team is pursuing this new avenue. A man, identified in court documents as R.R., has stated that he was influenced by authorities during his initial testimony.

In an affidavit submitted by Sandusky’s attorneys, R.R. claimed, I was told — both directly and indirectly — that trauma may have fragmented my memory, and that I could safely affirm details I did not fully recall. I was assured this was common and even expected.

A court hearing in Centre County has been set for September 8. Sandusky’s attorneys argue that R.R.’s allegations were influenced by suggestive questioning, prosecutorial coercion, and memory manipulation.

The Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General has expressed skepticism about R.R.’s recantation, calling it “highly suspect.”

Sandusky, who coached the defense at one of the nation’s top football programs under Hall of Fame head coach Joe Paterno, has consistently maintained his innocence. The scandal resulted in Paterno’s dismissal and the university paying over $100 million to alleged victims.

Jules Epstein, a law professor at Temple University, noted that even if the judge finds R.R.’s recantation credible, it does not guarantee Sandusky a new trial. The judge would need to assess how R.R.’s testimony fits into the broader case, which involved multiple charges and victims.

Authorities allege that Sandusky targeted and groomed boys through The Second Mile, a charity he founded for at-risk youth. During a 2019 court appearance, Sandusky apologized for not expressing remorse, stating, I apologize that I’m unable to admit remorse for this because it’s something that I didn’t do.

At the trial, R.R., then 25, testified that Sandusky performed oral sex on him in the coach’s basement in 1998 when he was 11. R.R. also testified that Sandusky threatened him, saying, He told me that if I told anybody that I would never see my family again.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)