Sandusky withdraws recantation claim, seeks higher court trial - ESPN

Jerry Sandusky appeared in Centre County Court Tuesday via video conference to withdraw his claim there for an appeal, which included a recantation witness, in hopes of taking his effort for a new trial to a higher court.

Sandusky agreed to withdraw a claim to the written recantation of Ryan Rittmeyer, one of the men who testified the former Penn State football assistant coach sexually abused him more than 25 years ago.

Before Sandusky's lawyers filed the withdrawal motion, it was anticipated that Rittmeyer would give testimony concerning his written recantation of accusations against the former Penn State football assistant coach, who was convicted in 2012 of 45 counts of child sexual abuse and sentenced to 30 to 60 years in prison. Six charges were attributable to Rittmeyer, then known as Victim 10, who testified Sandusky abused him on multiple occasions in 1998 and 1999.

Sandusky's lawyers, unsatisfied with the court's decision to not hear additional claims offered in an appeal last year, and its previous dismissals of Sandusky's efforts for a new trial, withdrew the claim last week in hopes of seeking a higher court remedy, according to an investigator for Sandusky, Frank Parlato Jr.

Presiding special Judge Maureen Skerda questioned Sandusky Tuesday on his choice to withdraw. Sandusky, wearing a brown prison uniform with 'DOC' printed across the back and chest, appeared via video conference from Laurel Highlands state prison.

A prosecutor then asked Sandusky if he wished to withdraw the recantation claim under the understanding that he could not offer the claim again in state or federal court.

Sandusky said he did and agreed to do so «under advice of counsel.»

In an interview with reporters following the hearing,