Disgraced Australian Catholic Cardinal Pell behind bars for child sex crimes

A police officer (L) clears the way for Australian Catholic Cardinal George Pell as he arrive at court in Melbourne on February 27, 2019. – Cardinal George Pell arrived in court, possibly for the last time as a free man, in a last-ditch push to apply for bail after his historic conviction for child sex crimes. (Photo by Con CHRONIS / AFP)

MELBOURNE, Australia (AFP) — Cardinal George Pell was ordered held in custody Wednesday following his historic conviction for child sex crimes, capping an extraordinary fall from grace for one of the most powerful men in the Catholic Church.

Prosecutors told a pre-sentencing hearing that Pell, the most senior Catholic cleric ever convicted for child sex abuse, faces a maximum 50 years in prison for five charges of sexual assault against two choirboys at Melbourne’s Saint Patrick’s Cathedral in 1996-7.

Pell’s lawyers earlier withdrew an application for bail with the Court of Appeal following his conviction, saying the cleric “believes it is appropriate for him to await sentencing” scheduled for March 13.

Pell has already lodged an appeal against the verdict.

He was silent through the sentencing hearing in the County Court of Victoria and when it concluded, he bowed to the judge and was led, without handcuffs, out of the courtroom.

The 77-year-old will be held in a remand center until his sentencing, when he will be transferred to a prison.

Chief Judge Peter Kidd earlier told the court that Pell’s offending was “blatant”.

“I see this as a callous, brazen offending,” Kidd said. “I think it did involve breach of trust… he exploited two vulnerable young boys.

“They were entrusted into the care of the church… and the person who stood at the top of that was your client.”