PHILADELPHIA — A U.S. jury has reached a verdict in a groundbreaking priest-abuse trial.
Monsignor William Lynn is the first U.S. church official charged for allegedly helping an archdiocese cover up abuse claims. He faces about 10 to 20 years in prison if convicted of conspiracy and two counts of child endangerment.
The jury is expected to announce the verdict Friday afternoon.
Lynn is on leave from the church, where he served as secretary for clergy from 1992 to 2004.
Defence lawyers say he tried to document the claims, get priests into treatment and alert his bishop to problem priests. Lynn says the cardinal was the ultimate authority on what happened to the priests.
Prosecutors argue that he could have called police or quit the job if efforts to help victims were being stymied.
