PENNSYLVANIA
The Kansas City Star
The Associated Press
JOHNSTOWN, PA.
A Roman Catholic priest accused of traveling to Honduras to molest poor street children during missionary trips was convicted on Tuesday of several charges.
Federal jurors convicted the Rev. Joseph Maurizio Jr. of charges including three of four counts related to sex abuse of boys during trips to a Honduran orphanage.
Maurizio was accused of traveling abroad from 2004 to 2009 to have sex with three young boys, a charge known as sexual tourism. He also was convicted of possession of child pornography and illegally transferring money to a charity to help fund the trips. Jurors acquitted him of another count of traveling outside the United States for sex with a minor and two other counts involving the transfer of funds.
The 70-year-old priest, who has been suspended from Our Lady Queen of Angels Parish in Somerset County, showed no reaction as the verdict was read to the packed courtroom. He is scheduled to be sentenced in February.
The priest repeatedly denied the allegations. His defense attorney presented testimony suggesting that interviewers can plant ideas that lead to false accusations.
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