PENNSYLVANIA
WJAC
[with video]
BY JILLIAN HARTMANN TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2ND 2016
JOHNSTOWN, Pa — A federal judge is deciding whether a former Central City priest convicted of having sexual relations with children during missionary trips should be granted a new trial.
Father Joseph Maurizio was found guilty on five of eight counts of abuse, a count of international money laundering, a count of possessing a photo that exploited a child and three counts of illicting sexual conduct with three separate victims.
Prosecutors said the abuse happened during his trips to Honduras from 2004 to 2009.
Defense Attorney, Steven Passarello argued in court that prosecutors withheld a statement by one of the victims claiming he was not abused by Maurizio. Passarello said the statement discredits his court testimony.
Justice Department Trial Attorney Amy Larson disagreed, saying Passarello was focusing on one line in a five-page questionnaire.
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