Penn State's Jerry Sandusky Seeks New Trial On Child Sex Abuse Charges

STATE COLLEGE, PA — Convicted child sex abuser Jerry Sandusky, a onetime top assistant coach with the Penn State football program, is asking for a new trial on charges that have him serving up to 60 years in prison.

In documents filed in U.S. District Court in Pennsylvania, Sandusky claims he had ineffective counsel in the trial that landed him behind bars.

Those documents quote Sandusky's previous attorney, Joseph Amendola, as stating the following in his opening remarks: “This is a daunting task. I’ll be honest with you. I’m not sure how to approach it. The commonwealth has overwhelming evidence against Mr. Sandusky.”

Sandusky, 78, an assistant under legendary Penn State coach Joe Paterno, was convicted of 45 child sex abuse charges in 2012.

The scandal resulted in the ousting of Paterno and Penn State President Graham Spanier.

Spanier was convicted of a misdemeanor charge of endangering the welfare of a child and spent two months in prison. Paterno died of cancer in January 2012, two months after he was removed as football coach.

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