A jury in Arizona started deliberations on Thursday in the case of a Catholic bishop accused of leaving the scene of a crime.

Bishop Thomas J. O'Brien didn't report hitting Jim Reed, a 43-year-old Navajo man. He drove home even though he noticed damage to his windshield, and kept quiet about the accident until police showed up at his door.

O'Brien faces 45 months in jail. He took the stand and defended his silence. In closing arguments, his attorney said it "didn't occur to him" to stop the night of the accident.

Get the Story:
O'Brien jury starts deliberations (The Arizona Republic 2/13)
Jury Now Ponders Verdict in Trial of Bishop (The Washington Post 2/13)
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Relevant Links:
Arizona's priest scandal - http://www.azcentral.com/specials/priest

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