BALTIMORE — A sympathetic jury cleared a man of most charges Monday in the shooting of a priest who he said abused him as a teenager. Jurors also asked for leniency when the former altar boy is sentenced on minor gun charges.

Dontee Stokes, 26, admitted that he shot and wounded the Rev. Maurice Blackwell in front of his Baltimore home when he tried to confront the priest about the alleged sexual abuse.

The May 13 shooting came amid mounting allegations of sexual misconduct by priests that have rocked the Roman Catholic Church. Baltimore Cardinal William Keeler told jurors Thursday he regretted reinstating Blackwell after investigating the claims in 1993.

The jury acquitted Stokes of attempted murder, which carries a maximum life sentence, and assault but convicted him of three gun charges. After delivering the verdicts, the jury recommended a lenient sentence in a note to the judge.

Stokes' mother, Tamara Stokes, closed her eyes and prayed as the verdicts were read. Her sisters clasped hands, holding their children on their laps. Tamara Stokes said the verdict would help other victims of clergy abuse.

"I'm not saying this is the way to go, but for victims coming forward, there is some light," she said.

During the trial, defense attorney Warren Brown said Stokes was pushed over the edge by the abuse when he was a teenage altar boy and Blackwell's refusal to apologize. He said Stokes was suffering a mental disorder from the abuse and experienced a "psychotic episode" during the shooting.

The jury also acquitted Stokes of using a handgun to commit a violent crime.

"God is with me," Stokes said after the verdict. "I thank God for everything he's done; all the glory goes to God."

The jury will decide Tuesday if Stokes can be held criminally responsible for the three weapons convictions.

Two of the convictions carry a maximum sentence of three years each, but his attorney said Stokes won't likely serve time.

"He was found not guilty of anything that would send him jail," Brown said. "We're going to come back tomorrow and get rid of this case and let Dontee get on with his life."

Prosecutor Sylvester Cox had told jurors that Stokes' abuse allegation didn't justify the attack.

During deliberations, jurors reviewed a videotape of testimony from forensic psychiatrist Dr. Michael Spodak, who said Stokes was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder when he shot Blackwell.

Stokes testified that he didn't intend to harm Blackwell when he confronted him. But he said that when Blackwell brushed him off, memories of abuse flooded back.

Stokes said his vision flickered and he had the sensation "that his soul was trying to get a hold of his body" before he shot Blackwell, who was wounded in the hand and hip.

Blackwell, 56, was called to the stand during the trial but invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination and refused to answer questions. Stokes' abuse allegations are under investigation; no charges have been filed.

Keeler, who was the bishop in charge of Blackwell at the time of the 1993 allegations, said he decided to send the priest back to St. Edward Roman Catholic Church under certain restrictions after Blackwell spent three months undergoing psychiatric evaluation.

Blackwell's attorney, Kenneth Ravenell, did not return a call from The Associated Press late Monday.

The Archdiocese of Baltimore released a statement Monday night saying the jury's verdict closes "one sad chapter" and could leave Baltimore with a "greater measure of reconciliation and peace."

A statement released late Monday by Martin Menton, director of the Baltimore chapter of the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests, said the organization was gratified by the decision.

"It has been a tough and unfortunate situation for everyone. Although SNAP in no way condones violence, we think the jury made the correct decision," the statement read.

BALTIMORE  — A prosecutor urged jurors Friday to convict a man who shot a priest accused of sexual abuse, saying it would send a message that people must not take the law into their own hands when they feel wronged.

Dontee Stokes' allegation that the Rev. Maurice Blackwell molested him nearly a decade ago doesn't justify the attack, the prosecutor said in his closing argument.

"It gives him absolutely, absolutely, no right to go out on the street, find this man and shoot him down on the street," prosecutor Sylvester Cox said.

Defense attorney Warren Brown compared Blackwell to "an anti-Christ" and said his alleged abuse and refusal to reconcile with Stokes pushed the 26-year-old over the edge.

Stokes is being tried on charges of attempted murder, assault and various handgun charges. Jurors were to begin deliberations Monday.

Brown argued his client shouldn't be held criminally responsible for the shooting because he was suffering a mental disorder as a result of the abuse.

In his closing argument, he also attacked the city's prosecutors, saying they refused to properly investigate a complaint against the cleric Stokes made in 1993. Prosecutors have said they lacked enough evidence at the time to pursue a case.

"They chose to spare Blackwell and crucify this young man," Brown told jurors.

Earlier Friday, a forensic psychiatrist testified that Stokes was suffering from a mental disorder when he wounded Blackwell in the hand and hip in May. Dr. Michael Spodack said Stokes was suffering from an impaired capacity to "form intent" at the time.

Spodack also said that after interviewing Stokes and talking to his family, he believes Stokes was a victim of sexual abuse that led to post traumatic stress disorder.

On Thursday, Stokes testified he did not intend to harm Blackwell when he confronted him about the abuse in front of Blackwell's home. But he said memories of abuse came flooding back when Blackwell brushed him off as he tried to talk to him.

Blackwell was called to testify Wednesday but invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination and refused to answer questions. He also declined to comment outside court.

On Thursday, Cardinal William Keeler told jurors he regretted reinstating Blackwell.

Keeler, who was the bishop in charge of Blackwell at the time of the 1993 allegations, said he had decided to reinstate the priest under certain restrictions after Blackwell spent three months undergoing psychiatric evaluations.

The city state's attorney's office is investigating Stokes' allegations. No charges have been filed, but prosecutors have turned the nearly finished investigation over to Carroll County prosecutors for an independent review.