Jerry Sandusky Case: Victim 10 Seeks to Recant Testimony as Court Sets Evidentiary Hearing

A former accuser in the Jerry Sandusky case is seeking to recant testimony he gave during the former Penn State assistant football coach’s 2012 trial, prompting a judge to authorize an evidentiary hearing to examine his claims.

The individual, identified in court records as “Victim 10,” or R.R., previously testified against Sandusky during his 2012 trial.

According to court records, R.R. signed an affidavit in June 2025 claiming that his earlier testimony had been influenced by the investigative process, questioning techniques, and psychological pressure he experienced at the time.

A judge has scheduled an evidentiary hearing for September 8, 2026, in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, where the court is expected to examine the circumstances surrounding the recantation and determine what weight, if any, should be given to R.R.’s new claims.

The development has drawn strong criticism from prosecutors. The Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office has described the recantation as “highly suspect.”

Importantly, R.R. has not conclusively established that his 2012 testimony was false. Likewise, the development does not mean that Sandusky has been exonerated or released from prison.

Sandusky was convicted in 2012 of 45 counts of child sexual abuse involving 10 victims and was sentenced to 30 to 60 years in prison.

Even if the court ultimately finds R.R.’s recantation credible, that finding would not automatically overturn Sandusky’s conviction. The judge would still have to consider how the changed testimony affects the prosecution’s case as a whole and whether it provides a legal basis for post-conviction relief.

The upcoming hearing is therefore expected to focus on the credibility of R.R.’s new account and the potential impact of his recantation on Sandusky’s existing conviction.

Source: CBS News