Pocono News Section

Judges in Court Today; New Details Emerge

Judges in Court Today; New Details Emerge - Thursday, February 12, 2009 at 06:25AM EST

Reported by: Andy Mehalshick
Thursday, Feb 12, 2009 @ 06:25am EST
WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY- Former Judges Mark Ciavarella and Michael Conahan are expected to plead guilty to fraud charges in federal court this afternoon. Meanwhile new details on the scandal have emerged.

The draft of a proposed state audit has surfaced on one of the two detention centers in the middle of Luzerne County's corruption scandal.

The report claims Luzerne County was billed more than $500,000 to Western PA Child Care. That includes payments to the facility's ex co-owner, Robert Powell, and money for trips to the NCAA tournament and the King of Prussia Mall.

Powell's attorney says the expenses in question are inaccurate.

And Luzerne County's cutting dozens of more jobs. President Judge Chester Muroski says 11 probation officers will be laid-off effective Friday. Additional employees will be notified of their layoffs then too.

The Probation Services Director and the Fiscal Director in Probation have been fired. Nearly 20 vacant positions in the Luzerne County court system will not be filled.

Judge Muroski says the cuts will reduce the 2009 court budget by $2.1-million.