U.S. priest in landmark abuse scandal released from prison after appeal

PHILADELPHIA – A Roman Catholic church official in the U.S. has left prison after winning an appeal of his landmark conviction in a priest-abuse scandal.

A Pennsylvania prison spokeswoman says Monsignor William Lynn was released Thursday from prison after 18 months.

The 62-year-old Lynn was the first U.S. church official charged for hiding complaints that priests were molesting children. He handled such complaints in Philadelphia from 1992-2004.

Get breaking National news

For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.

Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up

By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

READ MORE: Pa. monsignor becomes 1st US Catholic official convicted for covering up abuse complaints

Prosecutors charged him with felony child endangerment. But the appeals court says the law at the time didn’t cover people who don’t directly supervise children.

The Philadelphia Sheriff’s Office is taking Lynn to a Philadelphia jail to be fitted with an electronic monitoring device. After that, he’ll be released.

Prosecutors are appealing the Superior Court ruling.