Jerry Sandusky Withdraws Recantation Request in Latest Post-Conviction Hearing

Former Penn State assistant coach Jerry Sand Sand appeared by video link from Laurel Highlands state prison during a Centre County hearing. On counsel’s advice, he and his lawyers withdrew the request to present a recanted testimony from accuser “R.R.” and will instead pursue a new-trial petition in federal court. Judge Maureen Skerda allowed the hearing to continue and dismissed the post-conviction relief request. Sandusky’s defense, led by Jerry Russo, noted that courts view witness recantations as “inherently unreliable,” prompting the pivot to the federal system.

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Sandusky was convicted on 45 counts of sexual abuse on June 22, 2012, receiving a 30-to-60-year sentence. He has filed three state-court petitions for a new trial, all denied, and continues to assert his innocence. The scandal led to the firing of head coach Joe Paterno and to Penn State paying over $100 million in settlements to victims. One recanting accuser, identified in filings as Ryan Rittmeyer (Victim No. 10), previously received a $5.5 million civil settlement, with $2 million allocated to his attorneys.

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• 45 criminal counts.

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• Prison term: 30–60 years.

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• University settlements: >$100 million.

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• Rittmeyer’s civil settlement: $5.5 million (including $2 million attorney fees).

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• Jerry Sandusky told CNN, “Every one of those issues can be heard together by judges who have not already made up their minds about me.”

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• The Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General called the alleged recantation “highly suspect.”

Jerry Sandusky makes first court appearance since 2019 as disgraced Penn State coach seeks new trial after sexual abuse convictions

• Former prosecutor Joseph McGettigan argued the recantation was “induced” and not credible.

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• Settlement totals differ: some sources cite “more than $100 million,” others “over $109 million.”

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• Rittmeyer’s affidavit claims he was “induced” to testify, while prosecutors maintain the original testimony was reliable. No independent verification is provided.

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• “I'm making this decision on advice of counsel,” — Jerry Sandusky

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• “I now regret my role in facilitating what I have come to view as a deeply flawed prosecution,” — Ryan Rittmeyer

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Sandusky’s team plans to file a federal petition seeking a new trial, arguing that federal judges have not previously ruled on his case. No filing date has been disclosed. The outcome will depend on whether a federal court will entertain the claim that prior state proceedings were compromised.

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