Pennsylvania

Pa. Priest Demands Withheld Evidence from Sex Tourism Conviction

A federal judge will hear evidence on a convicted Pennsylvania priest's claims that federal prosecutors wrongly withheld evidence in his sexual tourism case.

The 70-year-old priest, Joseph Maurizio, was convicted in September on charges he had sex with poor street children during missionary trips to Honduras.

The priest was supposed to be sentenced Tuesday, but a federal judge in Johnstown will instead hold a hearing on sealed motions seeking a new trial filed by the priest's attorney.

The priest's specific claims are unclear because the motions are sealed.

But an order from the judge says he'll consider claims that prosecutors withheld evidence that may have been favorable to the priest, among other issues.

Federal prosecutors and Maurizio's attorney haven't commented on the motions.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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