Jerry Sandusky Sentenced in Major Child Molestation Case
(Photo : Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
Penn State paid close to $300 million in settlements following Sandusky's high-profile trial.

Disgraced Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky is still maintaining his innocence from prison, claiming the "incentivized" witnesses are to blame 12 years since he was first convicted.

Sandusky was found guilty in 2012 of 45 counts of sexual abuse of ten boys he met at his Second Mile charity, which allegedly took place over a period of 15 years between 1994 and 2009. 

Now 80, Sandusky is breaking his silence after his legal team launched a bid for a new trial.

The convicted sex offender has not spoken publicly about his charges or appeals since 2013.

He recently sat down for an interview with The DailyMail from Laurel Highlands State Correctional Institution in Pennsylvania, where he resides.

The former coach reaffirmed his innocence of the charges that led to his conviction.

"I never ever in my life ever thought about molesting anybody," he told the media outlet.

"I was accused of heinous crimes, which I've never committed. My wife was my only partner in sex, and that was after marriage."

He goes on to say his accusers were "vulnerable and susceptible" people who were "coached and led" by law enforcement and two therapists, whom he blames for the "inconsistent testimony."

Furthermore, Sandusky believes that his accusers were "incentivized" by money, adding that "nobody came forward on their own."

Sandusky's lawyers are calling for a new hearing on the validity of repressed memory therapy, according to the Mail.

The appeal states that the original trial jury should have heard more testimony about the technique, which Sandusky and his legal team say would not stand up in a courtroom today.

"We now have evidence that there was repressed memory therapy, and we have an expert who's willing to testify about how to analyze what happened," he explained, adding,

"Their stories changed. The point is that every last one changed." 

He recalls his initial disbelief and wonders why the accusers had made statements that were no longer consistent with their previous testimony.

"I believe I was wrongfully convicted by inconsistent, perjured testimony," declared Sandusky.

Penn State settled with eight individuals who testified against the disgraced coach at his trial, as well as 26 others who later claimed they too were abused by the former coach.

"They turned that down for an easy road with allegations and to make millions of dollars-that's not going to bring them happiness."

Despite the allegations, Sandusky's wife, Dottie, still continues to stand by him.

"I know who Jerry is. I never saw anything, and I was here. If Jerry had done these things, I would have told somebody I wouldn't have stayed with him."

Dottie isn't the only one convinced Sandusky is not a child abuser, with former Penn State coach Dick Anderson telling the Mail that Jerry is "completely innocent."

Anderson described the ordeal as a "political hit job," with Sandusky's arrest leading to the firing of Hall of Fame head coach Joe Paterno days later and the removal of then-university President Graham Spanier.

Sandusy was given a sentence of 30 to 60 years in prison.

His next hearing is scheduled for June 26.