Judge Recuses Herself From Jesse Friedman Sex Abuse Appeal

MINEOLA, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A New York judge has recused herself from a planned hearing in the notorious 1988 sex abuse case against Jesse Friedman.

Acting State Supreme Court Justice Teresa Corrigan, a former assistant Nassau County district attorney, decided to recuse herself in an effort to avoid a potential appearance of impartiality, Newsday reported.

Friedman and his father, Arnold Friedman, pleaded guilty in 1988 to abusing 13 children during a computer class that the elder Friedman taught at their Great Neck home.

But Jesse Friedman has maintained that he was coerced into confessing. He later said he accepted the deal to avoid a life sentence.

Arnold Friedman also pleaded guilty and later committed suicide in prison.

Friedman was released in 2001, but is determined to clear his name.

In September, prosecutors agreed to a hearing on evidence in the case.

Lawyers for Friedman said they have statements from witnesses who claim they were coached to lie.

Despite the hearing, the Nassau County district attorney's office said it remains confident Friedman's conviction will be upheld.

Friedman was a subject of the Oscar-nominated documentary "Capturing the Friedmans."

The acclaimed 2003 documentary featured interviews with Jesse Friedman; his brother, David; and their mother, Elaine. The film showed the breakdown of the family as documented on home video as the case against Arnold and Jesse Friedman went forward.

While the documentary took no position on the Friedmans' guilt, filmmaker Andrew Jarecki has assisted in the quest to have Jesse Friedman's conviction overturned.

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