Pocono News Section

Disgraced Judges Withdraw Guilty Pleas

Disgraced Judges Withdraw Guilty Pleas - Monday, August 24, 2009 at 4:42PM EST

Reported by: Andy Mehalshick
Monday, Aug 24, 2009 @ 04:42pm EST
SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY - 2 former Luzerne County judges have withdrawn their guilty pleas in the alleged "Kids for Cash" scheme.

Former judges Michael Conahan and Mark Ciavarella had entered a plea agreement with federal prosecutors in February.

But the 2 men withdrew their guilty pleas on Monday.

The FBI says the pair took some $2.6 million in kickbacks in connection with the operation and construction of a private juvenile detention center in Pittston Township.

They would have faced more than 7 years in prison but Federal Judge Edwin Kosik rejected that guilty plea last month.

He ruled that the 2 judges failed to take responsibility for their actions and that the penalty was too lenient.

Both Conahan and Ciavarella then asked Judge Kosik to reconsider his rejection of their guilty pleas.

Judge Kosik refused and 3-hours after his ruling, Conahan and Ciavarella withdrew their pleas.

It means the U. S. Attorney's Office could now file charges, obtain a grand jury indictment and head to trail or even renegotiate with the judges for another plea.