Defrocked priest pleads guilty to abusing altar boy

PHILADELPHIA (PA)
Philadelphia Inquirer

By John Martin
Inquirer Staff Writer

A defrocked Philadelphia priest pleaded guilty today to sexually molesting a young altar boy.

Edward Avery, 69, was senteced to 2 1/2 to 5 years immediately after pleading guilty to involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and conspiracy to endanger children.

He was a parish priest in the 1990s when he allegedly raped the fifth-grade boy.

Avery was a codefendant in the case against Msgr. William J. Lynn, the church official charged with endangering children by allegedly failing to properly respond to abuse allegations.

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