CENTRE COUNTY, Pa. -- Former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky withdrew his petition for a new trial at a hearing Tuesday morning with plans to pursue federal relief, according to a spokesperson for Sandusky.

A judge in Centre County, Pennsylvania, accepted the withdrawal of Sandusky’s petition at the state court hearing.

Sandusky, who was convicted of sex abuse in 2012, appeared virtually from prison to officially tell the court he’d like to withdraw the petition, filed last year.

Attorneys for Sandusky notified the court last week of his intentions but the judge kept Tuesday’s hearing on the schedule so she could hear from the disgraced 82-year-old disgraced football coach about the reversal.

A victim who testified against Sandusky in his original trial was scheduled to publicly recant his allegations in court on Tuesday at what was set to be an evidentiary hearing.

Sandusky has always maintained he is innocent and, according to the spokesperson, opted to withdraw his efforts in state court to pursue what he hopes to be a faster appellate route in federal court.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

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