PENNSYLVANIA
We Are Central PA
JOHNSTOWN, CAMBRIA COUNTY— A Somerset County Priest pled not guilty in Federal Court Tuesday to charges of sexually abusing young boys at an orphanage and having explicit photos of them.
The U.S Attorney is prosecuting the case against Rev. Joseph Maurizio. The 69 year old was arrested back in September. Attorneys alleged they found images of child pornography on his computer at the church in Central City, Somerset County. Agents raided the church a few days’ prior to his arrest, seizing computers, cameras and other digital equipment.
The defense team for Maurizio maintains that their client is innocent.
On Tuesday Maurizio was back in court for his formal arraignment. 35-40 people including family, friends and church members were there in support of the former priest who was at Our Lady Queen of Angels. Not one was willing to give a statement or comment to the media after the hearing.
The prosecution told the judge they felt Maurizio is a flight risk even with his passport taken away because of large sums of money he has access too. Maurizio’s accounts total more than $1 million, including cash, bonds and IRA’s.
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