Australia / Oceania

Former Australian Archbishop Won't Have To Serve His Sentence In Jail

In May, former Archbishop Philip Wilson was found guilty of not telling police that a fellow priest has abused two altar boys in the 1970s.

Former Australian Archbishop Won't Have To Serve His Sentence In Jail
Catholic Archdiocese of Adelaide
SMS

The highest-ranking Catholic official ever to be convicted of covering up child sexual abuse will serve his sentence at home instead of behind bars. 

In May, former Australian Archbishop Philip Wilson was found guilty of not telling police a fellow priest abused two altar boys in the 1970s. Wilson was sentenced to serve a year in detention. 

He officially resigned from his post as archbishop in July. 

On Tuesday, an Australian magistrate said the 67-year-old won't actually have to serve his sentence in jail because of his age and prior good record. 

Wilson will, instead, be detained at his sister's house and will be eligible for parole in February 2019. He will have to wear a tracking device. 

Additional reporting from Newsy affiliate CNN.