A Pennsylvania appellate court yesterday reversed the 2012 conviction of Msgr. William J. Lynn who was the first U.S. priest criminally convicted of covering up sexual molestation of minors by another priest. (See prior posting.) In Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. Lynn, (PA Super. Ct., Dec. 26, 2013), a unanimous 3-judge panel held that the trial court had misinterpreted the Endangering Welfare of a Child statute under which Lynn was sentenced to a term of 3-6 years. (The statute was later amended.) The appellate court held that the statute under which Lynn was convicted only applied to a person who is directly in charge of a child, not to someone supervising the person in charge. Also there was insufficient evidence to convict Lynn as an accomplice to the priest's violation of the statute. According to AP, prosecutors say they will appeal yesterday's decision and Lynn cannot be released until the appeals process is completed. The appeals court yesterday denied Lynn's motion for bail pending appeal, leaving that to the trial court. (Docket Sheet setting out order.)
UPDATE: On Dec. 30, the trial court set bail for Msgr. Lynn at $250,000. He will also be subject to electronic monitoring and must surrender his passport. (NBC 10 Philadelphia).
UPDATE 2: The Dec. 31 Philadelphia Inquirer reports that the Archdiocese of Philadelphia has posted $25,000 (apparently the amount needed for a bail bond) for the release of Msgr. Lynn. The district attorney has strongly criticized the Archdiocese for doing so.
