Former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky has filed an appeal, citing “new evidence” of prosecutorial misconduct.[1] Sandusky is currently in prison on child sex abuse charges.[2] He was convicted in 2012 on more than 45 counts of child sex abuse and was sentenced to 30 to 60 years in prison. He was resentenced to the same prison term in 2019, but with lower restitution. [3]
Sandusky was a defensive coordinator at Penn State under head coach Joe Paterno.[4] In 2012, a jury convicted Sandusky of sexually abusing 10 boys over a 15-year span. [5] Specifically, Sandusky was convicted of several counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, indecent assault, unlawful contact with minors, corruption of minors, and endangering the welfare of children. [6] The first time Sandusky was investigated was in 1998. Then, a mother reported an incident involving Sandusky and her son. [7] This investigation ultimately led to his conviction and arrest 14 years later. The statewide investigation revealed systemic failures in reporting at Penn State. [8]
The appeal was filed in Centre County and includes almost 400 pages of exhibits and affidavits.[9] The allegations are of prosecutorial misconduct, specifically, “asserting that prosecutors ‘coached’ two of Sandusky’s accusers to fabricate stories of abuse.”[10] This filing is known as a Post-Conviction Relief Act petition.[11]
This appeal is the most recent of the multiple appeals that Sandusky has filed since his conviction, most of which have been rejected.[12] Appellate courts have upheld his conviction and sentence repeatedly. [13]
Jerry Sandusky has continually maintained his innocence since his conviction.[14] The appeal is under review by the Centre County Court of Common Pleas. [15]
[1] Darnay, Mike, Jerry Sandusky files appeal in child sex abuse case alleging “new evidence”, CBS News (Oct. 3, 2025)
[2] Id.
[3] Id.
[4] Pikora, Jillian, Ex-Penn State Coach Jerry Sandusky Files New Appeal Alleging Misconduct In Sex Abuse Case, Daily Voice (Oct. 2, 2025)
[5] Id.
[6] Id.
[7] Id.
[8] Id.
[9] Sinderson, Gary, Jerry Sandusky files new appeal citing ‘new evidence’ in abuse case, WJAC (Oct. 3, 2025)
[10] Id.
[11] Pikora, supra note 4.
[12] Id.
[13] Id.
[14] Darnay, supra note 1.
[15] Pikora, supra note 4.
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