Jerry Sandusky accuser to appear for recantation hearing

A court hearing is scheduled to address a claim by one of Jerry Sandusky’s accusers to recant allegations of sexual abuse. The move is part of a legal effort by Sandusky’s defense team to secure a new trial for the former Penn State assistant football coach.

Sandusky, 82, is currently serving a prison sentence following a 2012 conviction on 45 counts of sexual abuse. The accuser, identified in court documents as R. R., filed an affidavit alleging that his original testimony was the result of “suggestive leading questioning, prosecutorial coercion and influence, confirmatory bias and memory manipulation.” R. R. claimed he was extensively coached by authorities and could “safely affirm details I did not fully recall.”

The Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General has characterized the proposed recantation as “highly suspect.” The Sandusky scandal previously resulted in the firing of head coach Joe Paterno and over $100 million in settlements paid by Penn State University to victims.