Adelaide, Australia, May 22, 2018 / 10:09 am
Australian Archbishop Philip Wilson has been found guilty of failing to report allegations of child sexual abuse disclosed to him in the 1970s.
The guilty verdict was announced Tuesday by local magistrate Robert Stone.
Currently the head of the Archdiocese of Adelaide, Wilson is the most senior Catholic Church official to be convicted of concealing abuse. The bishop, who has maintained his innocence throughout the trial, could face up to a maximum of two years in jail. It is unknown if he will appeal the verdict.
The sentencing hearing is scheduled for June 19. Archbishop Wilson said in a statement May 22 that he is "obviously disappointed at the decision" and that he will "now have to consider the reasons" and consult with his lawyers to determine the next steps.