Frank Parlato
Part 1 of a Series: What the Commonwealth Won’t Talk About
On December 18, 2025, the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office filed its response to Jerry Sandusky’s Post-Conviction Relief Act petition.
It was 73 pages.
It repeated trial testimony. It cited procedural deadlines. It argued that recanting witnesses should not be believed.
The Commonwealth’s entire position came down to three sentences.
The petition was late.
Recantations could not be trusted.
The evidence at trial was overwhelming.
Boilerplate.
The Commonwealth did not address the 2011 Leiter Recording. In it, lead investigator Joseph Leiter describes using “repetition and repetition… for months” until witnesses agreed with a story.
That recording constitutes witness contamination.
The Commonwealth cites Leiter’s trial testimony denying he ever suggested anything to witnesses. It does not mention the recording that contradicts him.
THE JURY INSTRUCTION
At trial, the judge spoke to the jury.
He told them that “The issue is not whether or not the witness’s testimony was corrupted by any questions.”
That ruling effectively barred the defense from arguing witness contamination—the core of its case.
The Commonwealth never mentions the instruction.
THE SECRET MEETING
There was a meeting on December 12, 2011, at the Hilton Garden Inn.
Judge John Cleland met with Prosecutor Frank Fina and Defense Attorney Joseph Amendola. It was off the record. Co-counsel Karl Rominger was not told. Neither was the public. Neither was the defendant, Jerry Sandusky.
The meeting waived Sandusky’s right to a preliminary hearing, where the theory of repressed memory as a science (or junk science) would have been challenged. That meeting to waive Sandusky’s rights should have been held in court with the defendant, a court reporter, and the public present.
It was held off the record and remained secret for four years after the trial. When it was exposed, Cleland recused himself.
In its 73-page response, the Commonwealth does not explain the meeting.
THE AG STATEMENT
At the press conference, cameras on. The acting Attorney General Linda Kelly said it was “incredibly difficult for some to unearth BURIED memories.”
The phrasing invoked recovered-memory theory—a theory that most courts have found unreliable.
The Commonwealth does not address the statement.
THE BARDEN REPORT — DISMISSED WITHOUT ENGAGEMENT
In an earlier PCRA proceeding, the defense submitted an expert report by R. Christopher Barden, a lawyer and memory scientist.
He holds a Ph.D. in clinical-child psychology from the University of Minnesota, summa cum laude. He earned a J.D. from Harvard Law School, cum laude. He has published in Developmental Psychology, Psychological Bulletin, and the Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and Law. He has testified in Frye and Daubert hearings in Minnesota, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Nebraska, California, Texas, and Utah. He has trained FBI investigators and federal judges on memory science.
His report said four things.
No competent memory expert testified at trial.
No Frye hearing was held to test the reliability of recovered-memory testimony.
The Leiter recording showed “the most historically improper, abusive, systemic government witness memory manipulation scheme” he had seen in thirty years.
Judge Cleland’s jury instruction was “the most science-uninformed, improper, corrupt statement” he had encountered in three decades of reviewing cases.
The Commonwealth called Dr. Barden’s analysis “scatter-shot hypotheses” that “do not advance any argument that was not previously explored.”
There was no hearing. The science was not examined. Whether courts ultimately agree with Dr. Barden’s conclusions, those opinions deserved a hearing—not a one-paragraph dismissal. Dismissing evidence is not the same as refuting it.
THE TRUST DOCUMENTS
In April 2015, the Sabastian Paden Trust Agreement put Prosecutor Frank Fina and the wife of Prosecutor Joseph McGettigan on the Trust Protective Committee. They had veto power over a key witness’s $12 million settlement.
The Commonwealth does not explain why prosecutors became paid gatekeepers of a witness’s money.
THE RECANTATION PROBLEM
Ryan Rittmeyer was one of eight witnesses whose testimony secured Sandusky’s conviction.
In June 2025, he submitted an affidavit. He said he was “approached by state investigators who encouraged [him] to believe that Mr. Sandusky had molested [him] — despite my lack of clear or certain memory of any such conduct.”
He said his testimony “evolved as a result of emotional strain, repeated exposure to leading questions, investigative pressure and psychological manipulation.”
He was coached before trial. He “felt he could not leave” during six-hour interviews. He was asked to “reframe his account” and “would not be released until his answers were consistent with the case narrative.”
That’s a blueprint that Leiter confirmed in the recording.
The Commonwealth answers with timing and credibility. Rittmeyer waited thirteen years. Recantations are “inherently unreliable.”
They do not address the six-hour sessions, the leading questions, or the pressure to shape his story to fit a narrative.
Prosecutors do not deny what he says happened, produce investigators to contradict him, or explain how “repetition and repetition for months”—Leiter’s own words—differs from what Rittmeyer describes.
The facts are not challenged. They are ignored.
PROCEDURAL SHIELD
The Commonwealth spent its first twenty pages on timeliness, arguing that the judgment became final on July 1, 2014. The 2025 PCRA petition is too late.
But the PCRA allows an exception: newly discovered facts that could not have been found earlier.
The trust documents were created in April 2015. The Rittmeyer recantation came in 2025. The Quidetto declaration, alleging that prosecutors manipulated her son, Sebastian Paden, and encouraged him to commit perjury, was signed in October 2024.
None of these facts existed when the judgment became final. You cannot discover what does not exist.
The Commonwealth argues that these witnesses could have been contacted earlier.
Great logic. A defendant could always have contacted a witness earlier. If accepted, this reasoning renders the concept of newly discovered evidence meaningless.
Next: Part 2 — The Leiter Recording
Frank Parlato is an investigative journalist, media strategist, publisher, and legal consultant.
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Fina, Cleland and McGettigan – corrupt to the core, especially Cleland.
The prosecutirs are the criminals. End of discussion.
Frank I applaud you and all other advocates for Jerry Sandusky and Man Boy Love in general. I too was persecuted for loving young boys. How is love a crime. Join me in lowering the age of consent to 13 so that others are not vilified for having a disorder.
I recommend three things: Immediate cessation of all unsupervised internet access. Involuntary commitment for evaluation. Mandatory chemical intervention.
I must be stupid and naive , but why in the world isn’t Jerry Sandusky home by now ?? How can this evil directed towards him not be fixed by others who care about justice being served for someone proven to be innocent . I find this all downright scary !!
Again. Not surprised by their actions. They just don’t want to stir the pot or face the truth. Too many people would be exposed if this case would ever be reopened.
Excellent article. It’s clear there’s been serious corruption in this case- calculated and buried deep by those who participated.
The state clearly cannot answer or each point in the PCRA would be countered instead of ignored.
Whether Sandusky is guilty or innocent he didn’t get a fair trial and many people benefited financially and politically off of this case.
The conviction should be thrown out because of the secret meeting. How can they possibly claim that is justice? The lack of integrity and ethics is embarrassing to the state of PA which is why so many were and continue to be complicit. It should have been tossed long ago.
Thank you for your continued coverage of the case they want the public to forget.
Nestled in “Happy Valley”, a Farmer’s High School was started in Centre County in 1855 with the goal of applying scientific principles to farming. By 1882, the school had evolved into Penn State College, one of the largest universities in the United States,
Tips from local Pig Farmer owning water rights to his “Almarter” Only Drunk
Indians would selll native land
Campbell was the founder of Rock Spring Water Company (now known as Rock Spring) in Pennsylvania. Established in 1947, the system was initially built to serve local farmers, which may link to the “pig farmer” reference.
Perversions runs threw them pipes that Penn States pays heavy for
Its in the water man
Potential Sale: As of mid-2025, efforts were underway to broker a sale of the company to the State College Borough Water Authority, though initial offers were rejected by some shareholders who felt the company was undervalued
Claimed that the Da was a bloodhound. Two males that are twins lived in Bellefonte Drove Truck one brother spotted the body from his dump truck and tipped it off.
Ray Gricar, a former Centre County District Attorney, successfully prosecuted James Robert Cruz Jr. in 1994 for the murder of 17-year-old Dawn Marie Birnbaum. The prosecution used a combination of forensic evidence to secure the conviction.
But yet they steal water from local Farmer using maps to show vein to drilll baby drill deep
Look at logically pig farmers water help merge my DNA to Penn States waste water plant that should hold one body of missing girl and maybe one from County line. I said either she was shreeded or theirs more than one Body
Side note to Frank
Penn State Ag days the theft of Rock Springs water in photo go to edge of woods in the valley walk 700 yards a pig farmers pipe spews water in freezing temps hunted there no the land well fJkHmqY2
they had pigs and it stank. but the water was good.
In 2006 I moved closer to the main line behind Penn States Ag days about a mile away 23 yrs lived less than half mile from farm and about 1/4 mile from State colleges deep drill pump station on horse farmers farm.
1994 I helped a man run 1200 ft of pipe from farmers pasture to residents home we taped it lots of pressure. Sure the should upgrade to 8 inch or resisting the hole dame thing from road with main line.
But State college drilled deep into vein to steal the water for county
A four-month Spotlight PA investigation published in June 2024 revealed how company owner J. Roy Campbell resisted state directives to fix the system. He also racked up dozens of regulatory violations and tens of thousands of dollars in civil fines throughout a yearslong legal battle with the Department of Environmental Protection over excessive water loss.
Read more at: https://www.centredaily.com/news/local/community/state-college/article311888898.html#storylink=cpy
What the hell are you talking about? This appears to be gibberish. Can your Bot master please shut you off.
Free Jerry Sanduky! He is overdue.
The meida did Sandusky in and the fool McQueary, the biggest dunce and liar in the whole case. What a moron.
What a moron, What are you talking about? Have you seen John Zig rolling about McQueary and his Johnson. Zigman was obsessed with it (weird thinking )
Paterno paid thousand in taxes to a county that would take water from Wilber Cambell the owner of Rock Springs Water.
Geo maps we used to find the vein and a local horse farmer was paid for a road and some property to swindle tax payers in water theft. Penn State showers running all hours of the night;
Even Jerry used more water than one could think. When horse play is turn on all the showers and bleed the belly dry.
Can we hear real audio of Joe? Next: Part 2 — The Leiter Recording
I heard a bunch of miss fists yelling from a bridge on Sunday Free Sandusky and Find the DA. Ray Gricar.
Activist group Keystone Indivisible held a protest against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on a highway overpass by Toftrees Sunday afternoon in State College.
Dotty Sandusky, a volunteer for Keystone Indivisible, said she grew up in State College.
“I’ve known this community, for the most part, to be inclusive and kind and caring and helpful to one another,” Sandusky said. “And I think the number of people out here today is a testament to that.”
(Free my husband now chants were heard a half mile away)
I know this is like my third comment about the recovered memories, but I am starting to get super angry about this, so please, Frank, let me explain it again (even though you know these things abstractly).
McGettigan had decided to show photos of each witness at the relevant age. Leiter was spending the months and months and repetition and repetition to dig up recovered memories. Konstas was super honest and ethical and told the truth.
Konstas was on cancer treatment and Sandusky had asked to provide some tlc, not as far as fostering or adoption perhaps.
One of the memories Fina and the others dug up is about Sandusky’s computer. That, Konstas now realizes he was vulnerable and innocent. And he now does remember that Sandusky had suggested that one of the things Konstas could do is learn things on the PC at Sandusky’s house. But he never went there, never saw Sandusky’s PC.
Meanwhile, the prosecution raided Sandusky’s house to see what is on the PC, and unusually, there is not even things like Lara Croft in TombRaider, or Arnold Schwartzenegger in a muscleman pose. It was things like how to use Microsoft word, how to use a mouse, how to send an email. How to play really innocent video games.
BUT, Fina himself while organizing the raids was sharing old things like playboy cartoons that would even then be a bit sad. They were mainly adult nudity, but children were like incidental meaningless figures in things like Dad thinks his secretary is not as fat as Mom. Fina’s ‘porn’ did combine adult nudity with clothed child characters with jokes along the lines of litte red riding hood or a dad saying “Now that you have seen that, my boy, you are a man”
The issue isn’t that Fina’s porn which he shared with the police who were investigating Sandusky, and with the judges, is how uncaring it is about children and how focussed it is on nudity and a dad thinking about his employees as conquests.
So, in court, with nothing to show on Sandusky’s computer, the recovered memories are still there, so Konstas says, he DOES remember Sandusky wanted him to go to Sandusky’s house and see his PC, and he was TOO YOUNG to realize how awful and icky that would be, and he does agree that if he had been made to sit on Sandusky’s lap while seeing THOSE THINGS on the PC it would have been awful and now he is old enough to understand how sick it is.
But the actual fact is, he never went to Sandusky’s house, he never saw Sandusky’s PC, and if he had, what he would have seen is like how to make a word document, as Sandusky taught many other kids who did well, and there were many THOUSANDS of kids he had helped in the Second Mile Charity, which closed down after Sandusky’s conviction, not only the ones he fostered, adopted, employed, put through high school or put through college.
So the prosecution argument, one of the planks was there that the recovered ‘memory’ worked and Konstas agreed that it would have been creepy and awful and he was too young and vulnerable to understand the awful thing that would have happened if Sandusky had brought him to the house and turned on the PC.
But the PC which had porn on it was the one carried by the prosecutor and shared iwth the cops and judges.
This is a shorter version of my other comment. About how the ‘recovered memory’ isn’t an unbelievable thing. In the example
It is a bit of a shame that even Barden is not a fully qualified forensic psychiatrist.
About the commonwealth ruling that Barden did not “advance any argument that was not previously explored,” and how this connects with months and months of repetition, or Cleland’s jury instruction, it is unbelievable that any amount of questioning really could change what someone actually remembers.
If you look at the press reporting on June 14 2012 on NBC (from Philadelphia channel 10) it says that the witness remembered that in general grey chest hair is ‘icky.’
The witness remembered “Sandusky lifted him up and everything after that is blacked out.”
I’ve already mentioned, you obviously can’t witness blacking out, so it isn’t a memory in the usual sense. The phenomenon is the police say “What happened next,” the witness says “I don’t remember” and the witness statement says his memory is just blacked out.
The witness remembers “He told me he had a computer.” The witness statement dutifully goes into what would be the arrangement if he HAD gone to work on the computer, would he be sitting on the adult’s lap. A forensic psychiatrist is going to clarify, since the witness NEVER WENT TO WORK ON THE COMPUTER any ‘memory’ of what WOULD HAVE HAPPENED is not correct evidence.
In fact we know the computers were raided and analyzed and they had things like educational computer games only, while the prosecutor FIna had that huge conflict ending up with Attorney General Kane jailed, because Fina had beeen emailing back and forth with police and DID have playboy-style jokes, images and nudity.
So what I am saying is, the adult ‘remembered’ that as a child (while undergoing cancer treatment as it happens and JS having been asked to help be a father figure), Sandusy had TALKED ABOUT working together on a computer. That had never ended up taking place. And the prosecutor in that time was sharing soft porn with the police and some judges and thinking this is all funny. The resulting ‘porngate’ in which attorney general Kane was jailed and Fina and Kane had the to-the-death conflict, was about what was on FINA’S computer. Sandusky never had anything except things to help kids, who did many of them go on to graduate high school and many graduate college. But the “memory” is about this witness saying what if he HAD gone to work on the computer, would it mean he would be sitting on a lap and he remembers thinking that would have been icky.
Someone with degree in forensic psychiatry is clear minded enough to just have one principal. When an adult gives a witness statement to the police, WRITE IT DOWN.
A system where the witness statements get discarded month by month until there are enough ‘memories’ that grey hair is icky or things about ‘flashbacks’ or memories of ‘did you ever wonder what it would have meant if you had gone to his house’ CAN be in witness statements but they are memories of THOUGHTS.
Not surprised. They once again did what they do best….ignore the obvious. They are cowards, and I don’t know how they sleep at night. Corruption to its core.
The quote, “I don’t know who you are whether it’s today, tomorrow or five years from now you got one coming,” was stated by former Penn State linebacker LaVar Arrington.
The mood of the country is different now. MOre and more people are aware that prosecutors lie and cheat and innocent people go to prison.