Philly monsignor loses bid for bail during appeal

    An appeals court has denied a bid for bail by a Philadelphia monsignor appealing his child-endangerment conviction.

    The Philadelphia Inquirer reports the state Superior Court rejected Monsignor William Lynn’s request for bail yesterday. His lawyers say he has a good chance of having his case overturned because of alleged trial errors. 

     Prosecutors argued freeing him on appeal would amount to unfair special treatment.

    One of Lynn’s lawyers, Thomas Bergstrom, told the newspaper his defense team would “explore its options” after the ruling.

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    The 61-year-old Lynn is the first U.S. church official convicted of endangering children by keeping predators in ministry. He served as secretary for clergy at the Archdiocese of Philadelphia from 1992 to 2004.

    He’s serving a three- to six-year sentence handed down in July.

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