Pa. Priest Charged With Visiting Honduras To Have Sex With Children Could Be Released From Jail

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (AP) — A federal judge is reconsidering a lower magistrate's order to release a Pennsylvania priest from jail and confine him to his home until his trial on charges that he traveled to Honduras for sex with poor street children during missionary trips.

U.S. District Judge Kim Gibson in Johnstown will hold a new detention hearing Friday for the Rev. Joseph Maurizio.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Keith Pesto last week ruled the 69-year-old priest could be released to home detention as long as his bank accounts are frozen and he's not able to access church-related funds. Prosecutors are concerned Maurizio could use the money to flee the country before he's prosecuted.

Pesto ruled that Maurizio must remain jailed, however, until prosecutors appeal the release order to Gibson.

A defense attorney claims the priest has been wrongly accused.

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