PA court upholds rejection of ex-PSU coach Jerry Sandusky’s latest bid for a new trial

A statewide appeals court upheld Thursday a lower court's denial of former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky's latest bid for a new trial.

A three-judge panel of the state Superior Court agreed the disgraced coach failed to present evidence that would not be used solely to call into question the credibility of some of his accusers.

Sandusky's defense lawyers also argued he should receive a new trial based on information they said came to light only after his 2012 trial, but that was also rebuffed.

Sandusky could not establish that the evidence would likely result in a different verdict, state Superior Court Senior Judge Correale F. Stevens wrote in a 33-page opinion.

"The information and evidence presented in this matter do not raise an issue of material fact," he wrote. "The only facts alleged are that multiple child victims were averse to making the difficult revelation of sexual abuse at first but came forward later."

The state Superior Court also refused to overturn a lower judge's ruling that Sandusky must pay nearly $45,000 to cover the costs of his preliminary hearing and nine-day trial, about half of which was overtime racked up by police officers.

It was not immediately clear what the 80-year-old's next steps may be. Defense lawyers Al Lindsay and J. Andrew Salemme each told the Centre Daily Times they were still reviewing the decision Thursday afternoon and had not yet spoken with Sandusky.

A spokesperson for the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General said the state's top law enforcement office is "pleased with the court's decision and that justice has been upheld in this case."

"We will continue working to ensure the just verdict is preserved and the defendant is held fully accountable for his actions," the office wrote in a statement.

Sandusky was convicted of 45 counts of child sexual abuse in 2012. He is serving a 30- to 60-year sentence at Laurel Highlands state prison in southwestern Pennsylvania, which state prosecutors and his own attorney have described as tantamount to a life sentence.

His 2011 arrest prompted the firing of Hall of Fame coach Joe Paterno, charges against three powerful ex-administrators and changes in state law. The university has paid more than $100 million to people who said they were abused by Sandusky.

His accusers said at trial that he subjected them to a range of abuse, from grooming to violent attacks. Sandusky still maintains his innocence.

(c)2024 the Centre Daily Times (State College, Pa.) Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.