Philadelphia DA Files Appeal In Monsignor Lynn Case
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – The District Attorney's Office in Philadelphia has announced it is appealing the decision to overturn the conviction of a Philadelphia church official charged with shielding pedophile priests.
Earlier this month, Monsignor William Lynn was released from state prison, where he'd been housed for 18 months after being charged with child endangerment for reassigning sexually abusive priests to other parishes instead reporting them to law enforcement (see previous story).
An appeals court dismissed the criminal case against Lynn, stating that he was wrongly convicted of child endangerment and that the law at the time did not apply to supervisors, only parents and caregivers.
The DA had previously said it intended to appeal the case. Just hours after Lynn's conviction was overturned, DA Seth Williams issued the following statement:
"I am disappointed and strongly disagree with the court's decision. While we are deciding what our next course of action will be, we most likely will be appealing this decision."
Lynn was fitted with an electronic bracelet remains on house arrest at St. Williams in the Northeast.