PITTSBURGH – A federal judge will hear evidence on a claim that federal prosecutors wrongly withheld evidence in the case of a Pennsylvania priest convicted of having sex with poor street children during missionary trips to Honduras.
The 70-year-old priest, Joseph Maurizio, was supposed to be sentenced Tuesday, but a federal judge in Johnstown will instead hold a hearing on sealed motions seeking a new trial filed. The motions were filed by the priest's attorney.
Maurizio's specific claims are unclear because the motions are sealed.
But an order from the judge says he'll consider claims that prosecutors withheld evidence that may have been favorable to the priest, among other issues.
Federal prosecutors and Maurizio's attorney haven't commented on the motions.
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