PENNSYLVANIA
Tribune-Review
BY LIZ ZEMBA | Monday, Feb. 8, 2016
A Somerset County priest convicted of molesting boys at a Honduran orphanage will not receive a new trial.
U.S. District Judge Kim R. Gibson issued an order Monday denying the Rev. Joseph D. Maurizio’s request for a new trial and setting a sentencing hearing for March.
In the 48-page opinion and order, Gibson found that defense attorney Steven Passarello of Altoona failed to show that newly discovered evidence contained in a witness’ victim-impact statement would result in a not-guilty verdict at another trial. Gibson said he took into account other evidence at the September trial when rendering his decision.
“Given the substantial evidence that exists in this case, and the court having examined the evidence already weighed and considered by the jury in the defendant’s first trial, the court finds that it is unlikely that a jury at a second trial would acquit defendant,” Gibson said in the opinion.
Passarello, who noted that Gibson sided with him on several points he raised, said he is disappointed in the denial.
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