SOMERSET, Pa. – A judge has scheduled a hearing for September 8 to consider whether former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky can seek a new trial. The hearing follows a recent affidavit filed by a man identified only as R.R., who says he was coached by authorities to recall details of alleged abuse.
Sandusky, 82, has been incarcerated since his 2012 conviction on 45 counts of sexual abuse involving multiple boys. He has repeatedly lost attempts to overturn his conviction. In an exclusive phone interview with Action News, Sandusky described his situation as “the worst experience of my life” and maintained that he is an innocent man.
New legal strategy
Sandusky’s new attorneys plan to argue that his original counsel was ineffective and that prosecutors Joe McGettigan and Frank Fina improperly coached the victims. The defense also points to a recent recantation by an accuser known as Victim 10, who now says Sandusky did not abuse him.
According to court records, the victims’ accusations were the result of “investigative pressure” and “psychological manipulation.” Investigative journalist Frank Parlato, who has followed the case for three years, said he believes Sandusky is innocent and expects to testify, along with the mother of another victim.
Motivation claims
Sandusky told Action News that he believes money was the driving factor behind the allegations and his conviction on 35 counts of sexual abuse of 10 victims. He said, “Money became such a huge motive for everybody, and they incentivized the accusers and led them.” He added that without that pressure, the accusers would not have made allegations.
The former coach’s victims were all connected to his charity for troubled youth, The Second Mile. “Each of them had issues,” Sandusky said, noting that the program served youth with various challenges.
Official response
The Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office released a statement confirming that the defense will request a new trial based primarily on the suspect recantation offered by the defense. Prosecutor McGettigan has since passed away, and attempts to contact former prosecutor Frank Fina for comment have been unsuccessful.
While it is not yet known whether Sandusky will appear in person at the September hearing, he expressed a desire for his family to know the truth, saying, “I want to be home in the worst way, and I want my grandkids to know the truth.”
Original reporting: Brookhaven News – ABC7 New York — read the source article.
