One of the accusers in the child sex abuse case against former Penn State football coach Jerry Sandusky is expected to recant his testimony during an evidentiary hearing scheduled for September 8. The accuser, identified as Victim 10, claims that prosecutors coached him to steer his previous testimony and allege that they influenced his claims against the convicted child molester.
According to a sworn affidavit obtained by ABC News, Victim 10 states that prosecutors told him, both directly and indirectly, that trauma might have caused him to have a "fragmented" memory. He was assured that it was common and expected to affirm details he did not fully recall. Sandusky, 82, is scheduled to appear in court for the hearing.
Sandusky was convicted in 2012 on 45 counts of child sex abuse for sexually abusing 10 boys over a decade, primarily between 1994 and 2009. The abuse occurred with young men he met through his Second Mile Charity, an organization he founded for at-risk youth. His 30- to 60-year prison sentence was reaffirmed in 2019.
During his trial, victims testified about experiencing a range of abuse, from grooming to violent attacks. Letters from victims described the lasting impact of their abuse, including anxiety, difficulties in relationships, and anger. One victim, referred to as Victim 4 in court records, stated he does not forgive Sandusky and spoke of efforts to discredit the victims.
Sandusky's defense team has indicated that Victim 10's now-estranged wife may testify that he was not sexually abused by the former coach. The Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office has reportedly argued that the woman's opinion on the matter is irrelevant and inadmissible.
Sandusky, who retired from Penn State in 1999, was arrested in 2011. The scandal also led to the firing of head coach Joe Paterno. Penn State has paid more than $100 million to individuals who claimed they were abused by Sandusky. Former Penn State President Graham Spanier was previously convicted of child endangerment for failing to report Sandusky's abuse in 2001, though that conviction was later overturned.
In 2024, Sandusky maintained his innocence from prison, telling the Daily Mail that his accusers were "coached and led" and motivated by money. He asserted that he had never molested anyone and that his accusers' claims were false.