Ex-Pa. judge to plead guilty in kickback scheme

Friday, May 28, 2010

SCRANTON, Pa. (AP) -- One of two former northeastern Pennsylvania judges facing federal racketeering charges in a "kids-for-cash" kickback scheme has agreed to plead guilty.

According to a plea agreement filed Thursday, former Luzerne County Judge Michael Conahan will plead guilty to his role in a $2.8 million scheme involving the placement of juvenile offenders in for-profit detention facilities.

Another former judge, Mark Ciavarella is also charged in the scandal.

Prosecutors say Conahan and Ciavarella took kickbacks from the owner and builder of two private juvenile detention facilities.

Last year, the state's high court vacated the convictions of thousands of juveniles who appeared before Ciavarella between 2003 and 2008.

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