Diocese: Retired Phoenix Bishop Thomas O'Brien dies at 82

PHOENIX (AP) -- Officials with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix say retired Bishop Thomas O'Brien has died at age 82. They say O'Brien died Sunday morning from ongoing health complications related to Parkinson's disease.

O'Brien served as bishop of the diocese in Arizona's most populous city from 1982 to 2003.

An investigation by the Maricopa County Attorney's Office in 2002 revealed O'Brien had protected suspected pedophile priests.

He was granted immunity from prosecution after signing a document admitting his part in cover-ups of alleged sexual misconduct by diocesan priests.

O'Brien resigned as bishop after he arrested in the death of a pedestrian in a June 2003 hit-and-run accident.

He was convicted of leaving the scene of a fatal accident and sentenced to four years of probation and 1,000 hours of community service.