Pocono News Section

Local ties to Moore's new film

Local ties to Moore's new film - Friday, October 2, 2009 at 5:53PM EST

Friday, Oct 2, 2009 @ 05:53pm EDT

The Luzerne County judges scandal hits the big screen.

Michael Moore's new film "Capitalism, A Love Story" includes the corruption case.

Among those heading into the theatre to catch this movie were a mother and son who say they were caught up in this corruption scandal.

Eyewitness News caught up with Linda and Shane Smith at the movie theatre in Wilkes-Barre .

It's their own story that makes this movie important to them...

"I was one of the people that got sent away and all that. It makes it interesting to see what happened to me on the movie screen," said Shane Smith.

Shane's talking about the Luzerne County federal corruption probe.

It's expected to be included in Michael Moore's film.

County judges Michael Conahan and Mark Ciavarella have been federally indicted.

They allegedly made money off sentencing juveniles to detention facilities.

Shane says he appeared in Luzerne County 's juvenile court last year and received an unfair sentence.

Shane's mother says it ruined his school year.

"That's my main reason for probably wanting to come and see it. I haven't been to the movies in years but I'm coming to see this," said Linda Smith.

Moore 's movie plot explores capitalism in America and possible corruption within the country's top economic leaders.

Frank Callaghan says he's seeing the movie to catch a glimpse of Luzerne County on the silver screen.

"Whatever exposure we can get, whether it's good or bad but hopefully the rest of the country sees that we're trying to mend things," said Callaghan.