In this March 27, 2012 file photo, Monsignor William Lynn leaves the Criminal Justice Center in Philadelphia.
A Roman Catholic Church official in the U.S. is set to leave prison after winning an appeal of his landmark conviction in a priest-abuse scandal.
A Pennsylvania prison spokeswoman says Monsignor William Lynn is scheduled to be released on Thursday after 18 months.
The 62-year-old Lynn was the first U.S. church official charged for hiding complaints that priests were molesting children. He handled such complaints in Philadelphia from 1992-2004.
City prosecutors charged him with felony child endangerment. But the appeals court says the law that existed at the time didn't cover people who don't directly supervise children.
Lynn must remain on electronic monitoring while prosecutors appeal the Superior Court ruling.