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Conahan & Ciavarella Plead Not Guilty in Federal Court
Conahan & Ciavarella Plead Not Guilty in Federal Court - Tuesday, September 15, 2009 at 3:30PM EST
Reported by: Joe Holden
Tuesday, Sep 15, 2009 @ 03:30pm EDT
SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY -- Former Luzerne County judges Mark Ciavarella and Michael Conahan pleaded not guilty this morning to 48 corruption related charges.
The two judges plead guilty to fraud and conspiracy in the case back in February. They withdrew those pleas last month after a federal judge rejected the 87-month sentences they were given.
A 48-count indictment was then filed against the judges. It says the former judges jailed juveniles in facilites in which they had a financial interest.
We now know that money came from prominent Attorney Robert Powell, & real estate developer Robert Mericle for the construction and operation of those facilities.
The paperwork also says the judges used several methods of hiding the money. They used wire payments through several companies, mislabeled checks, & even put money in their wives accounts.
And another official indicted in the corruption probe is expected to appear in federal court today.
Luzerne County Jury Commissioner Jerry Bonner is accused of taking a bribe. The money was for awarding contracts to an unnamed business.
Bonner is one of five board members who decide on housing authority contracts and spending. Bonner is also one of two people who oversee the jury selection in Luzerne County.
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