{"id":20942,"date":"2016-03-02T14:58:34","date_gmt":"2016-03-02T22:58:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/?p=20942"},"modified":"2016-03-02T14:58:34","modified_gmt":"2016-03-02T22:58:34","slug":"priest-sentenced-to-more-than-16-years-in-prison-for-sexually-abusing-two-boys-during-honduras-trips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/?p=20942","title":{"rendered":"70-Year-old Priest Sentenced to 16 Years in Prison for Sexually Abusing Two Boys During Honduras Trips (Video)"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Pennsylvania<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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A federal judge today sentenced a priest, of the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown, Pennsylvania, to more than 16 years in prison in connection with sexually abusing two boys during trips to Honduras over a five-year-period, according to officials.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Joseph D. Maurizio Jr<\/strong>., 70, of Central City, Pennsylvania, was convicted on Sept. 22, 2015, following an eight-day jury trial, of engaging in illicit sexual conduct in foreign places, possession of child pornography and international money laundering.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Maurizio was also ordered to pay a $50,000 fine and $10,000 in restitution to each victim.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to the evidence introduced at trial, in 2001, Maurizio created a charitable organization, then known as Honduras Interfaith Ministries, which was funded by donations from community members, including parishioners of Our Lady Queen of Angels Church in Central City.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

Interfaith Ministries became the largest donor for Pro Ni\u00f1o, a non-profit organization that provided shelter and rehabilitative services to poor, abandoned and at-risk children residing in a rural town near San Pedro Sula, Honduras.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

Between 2004 and 2009, Maurizio used Interfaith Ministries money to fund 13 separate trips between the United States and Honduras, during which he sexually abused two minor boys living at Pro Ni\u00f1o shelters, according to officials.<\/span><\/p>\n

Evidence presented at trial demonstrated that Maurizio used his position with Interfaith Ministries, Pro Ni\u00f1o\u2019s largest donor, to gain unfettered access to the minors, as well as to purchase them gifts, including clothes, shoes and jewelry, in order to build the boys\u2019 trust and to ensure their compliance during his sexual abuse.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

During his final trip to Honduras, Maurizio paid the boys to engage in sexual acts with him.<\/span><\/p>\n

In addition, trial evidence showed that Maurizio kept digital media depicting the minors he sexually abused and other images of child sexual exploitation in the Our Lady Queen of Angels Church rectory.<\/span>
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