PENNSYLVANIA
ABC News
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. — Sep 16, 2015
A key witness in the trial of a Pennsylvania priest charged with traveling to Honduras to molest poor street children during missionary trips has recanted on the stand.
The 24-year-old man testified in a federal courtroom in Johnstown that he was never molested by the Rev. Joseph Maurizio despite prosecution claims that he had been as a 14-year-old boy.
The witness acknowledged accusing the 70-year-old priest during a previous interview with investigators but on Tuesday said he felt pressured to make the accusations. He also testified that Maurizio’s attorney tried to get him into the U.S. to testify in the priest’s favor at an earlier proceeding, but U.S. Embassy officials prevented him from getting a visa.
The Associated Press does not identify people who may be victims of sexual assaults.
Two other Honduran men did testify that the priest abused them, however.
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