Jerry Sandusky maintains innocence as accuser plans to recant testimony

Jerry Sandusky, a convicted child molester and former Penn State football coach, reiterated his innocence on Friday following reports that one of his accusers intends to retract his testimony. In an interview with ABC6 from a Pennsylvania state prison, Sandusky claimed that the victims fabricated allegations of sexual abuse for financial gain and to damage his reputation. "This is the worst experience of my life," Sandusky stated. "I am an innocent man, and I have been convicted by so many people with their own personal agendas, and this was an opportunity to take advantage of a tremendous personal gain," he added. At 82 years old, Sandusky expressed a desire to prove his innocence to his grandchildren. He stated, "I want to be home in the worst way, and I want my grandkids to know the truth," asserting that financial incentives from Penn State and pressure from prosecutors motivated the accusers to come forward. Sandusky is currently serving a 30-to-60-year sentence on 45 counts of child sexual abuse, which occurred from 1994 to 2009, involving boys he met through his Second Mile charity. Sandusky is scheduled to return to court on September 8 for an evidentiary hearing related to one accuser, known as "Victim 10," who plans to tell the court that Sandusky did not sexually abuse him and that prosecutors influenced his testimony. Victim 10 claims that during the pretrial process, he was led to believe that trauma may have affected his memory. In a sworn affidavit, he stated, "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." Sandusky's defense team is seeking a new trial, arguing that Victim 10's estranged wife could support claims that her ex-husband was not abused by Sandusky. The defense plans to contend that Sandusky received ineffective counsel and that prosecutors used psychological manipulation to convince accusers of their allegations. The Pennsylvania State Attorney General’s Office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.