Philly priest Monsignor Lynn guilty of child endangerment

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PHILADELPHIA, June 22 (UPI) -- Jurors in the sex-abuse trial of two Archdiocese of Philadelphia priests Friday found Monsignor William J. Lynn guilty of one count of child endangerment.

The jury acquitted Lynn of conspiracy and a second endangerment charge and was deadlocked on attempted rape and endangerment charges against the Rev. James J. Brennan, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

Common Pleas Judge M. Teresa Sarmina declared a mistrial on Brennan's charges and excused the jury, the newspaper said.

The seven-man, five-woman jury reached their conclusions after 13 days of deliberations.

Lynn, 61, was the first U.S. church official to be tried for child endangerment in enabling or covering up sexual abuse by clergy. He was accused of allowing Brennan and another priest, Edward Avery, to continue working in parishes throughout the 1990s with the knowledge they were a danger to minors.

Avery pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a 10-year-old altar boy before the trial began and was sentenced to 2 1/2 to 5 years in prison.