GUILTY PA - Judges Ciavarella & Conahan accused of jailing kids for cash, Wilkes-Barre, 2009

[ohiogirl]

http://citizensvoice.com/prosecution-judges-turned-courthouse-into-cash-cow-1.1101701#axzz1DOcHE8aY

So this judge says he didn't know it was illegal? Why create the convoluted method of receiving the $$ then?

 

[ohiogirl]

updates on trial, 2/8/11

http://citizensvoice.com/news/trial...er-makowski-testifies-1.1101633#axzz1DOcHE8aY

 

[ohiogirl]

Pension FightCiavarella, whose resignation from the bench took effect on March 16, submitted an application for pension benefits that same day, seeking to withdraw a lump sum of $232,051 that included $51,699 in interest and to begin receiving $5,156 in monthly pension benefits.[30] However, Ciavarella agreed to a federal injunction freezing his pension benefits on or about May 27. It was requested by the U.S. Attorney's office in order to apply the benefits to restitution to the victims.[31]

Subsequently, the State Employees' Retirement System (SERS) denied pension benefits to Ciavarella, reversing its earlier position that he is eligible to receive benefits until he is sentenced. SERS ruled the former judge's guilty pleas to fraud and conspiracy in February provided sufficient grounds to deny the benefits. The agency based its determination on the pension forfeiture act, which allows for the denial of benefits to anyone convicted of certain crimes related to their public employment. SERS also refused to repay Ciavarella the $234,000 he contributed to the retirement system because the state Department of Public Welfare claims he and Conahan are liable for $4.3 million in alleged overpayments it made to two juvenile detention centers.[32][33][34]

Ciavarella has appealed the decision, and his attorney alleges that the withdrawal of his guilty plea aids that appeal since there is now no guilty plea on file.[35]

[ame]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Ciavarella[/ame]

 

[ohiogirl]

http://citizensvoice.com/news/trial-update-mericle-testifies-briefly-1.1101633#axzz1DOcHE8aY

Developer Robert K. Mericle testified briefly that he was testifying against former Judge Mark A. Ciavarella Jr. under a plea agreement that required him to fully cooperate with investigators, who originally agreed to seek only a 4-month prison sentence on a charge of failing to report a felony in the Ciavarella case.

Prosecutors recenlty asked to amend that agreement after they learned Mericle had failed to tell them about other payments he made to elected officials so that they can seek up to three years in prison when he is sentenced



Read more: http://citizensvoice.com/news/trial-update-mericle-testifies-briefly-1.1101633#ixzz1DP8B8nkQ

 

[ohiogirl]

Bunch of lying *****!

 

[OneLostGrl]

This is horrible! IMO, these judges judges should receive more than 7 years for this. If they thought a 90 day sentence for a minor charge was appropriate, then I think a 20 plus year sentence is good enough for the judges.

http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=157&sid=5568610

(snip)
For years, the juvenile court system in Wilkes-Barre operated like a conveyor belt: Youngsters were brought before judges without a lawyer, given hearings that lasted only a minute or two, and then sent off to juvenile prison for months for minor offenses.
The explanation, prosecutors say, was corruption on the bench.
In one of the most shocking cases of courtroom graft on record, two Pennsylvania judges have been charged with taking millions of dollars in kickbacks to send teenagers to two privately run youth detention centers. (more at link)

OMG this makes me sick!!:maddening:

 

[mysteriew]

http://citizensvoice.com/prosecution-judges-turned-courthouse-into-cash-cow-1.1101701#axzz1DOcHE8aY

So this judge says he didn't know it was illegal? Why create the convoluted method of receiving the $$ then?

LOL I've not been educated or practiced in the legal system and I know that kick backs are illegal! So I don't believe this a** didn't know. Besides ignorance of the law is no excuse... isn't that what the prosecutors say?

 

[kline]

This scenario is right out of Stephen King and Peter Straub's book "The Talisman" . . . where Jack and Wolf are picked up for hitchhiking and sent to Sunlight Gardner's Christian Home for Wayward Boys.

I thought of the 'Talisman' too . 'Right Here and Now!'

 

[ohiogirl]

http://citizensvoice.com/news/court...-to-ex-judges-payoffs-1.1102649#axzz1DestzfRg

Update on the trial.

 

[ohiogirl]

http://citizensvoice.com/news/trial...-spokesman-to-testify-1.1103516#axzz1DestzfRg

 

[ohiogirl]

http://citizensvoice.com/news/prosecutors-configure-verdict-plan-1.1104680#axzz1DwRURQDY

Prosecution's proposed jury slip.

 

[ohiogirl]

http://citizensvoice.com/news/trial...pes-to-state-official-1.1104753#axzz1DwRURQDY

Prosecution rests. Defense begins case.

 

[ohiogirl]

"If it was legal, I didn't care how it got to me as long as it got to me," he said, and added later, "I considered it a loan. I never considered it anything other than a loan."

If it wasn't a loan, and he'd known the money was not recorded in the Beverage Marketing books, Ciavarella said he would have paid the taxes. Having the business pay the taxes for him "was obviously a much better deal," he said.

"I may be dumb, but I'm not stupid," he said.


Read more: http://citizensvoice.com/news/trial...ause-money-was-a-loan-1.1105217#ixzz1E3nsOVYi

He considered it a loan, did he pay it back? I think not. What a liar.

 

[ohiogirl]

Ciavarella admits he asked for $175K from unidentified person in early 2009, around time he was charged in corruption probe.

Read more: http://citizensvoice.com/news/trial...keting-cash-donations-1.1105217#ixzz1E3yiFUxQ

 

[ohiogirl]

Former Judge Mark A. Ciavarella Jr. admitted during his testimony in his corruption trial that he pocketed $15,000 to $20,000 in cash donations from his 2005 retention campaign.


Read more: http://citizensvoice.com/news/trial...keting-cash-donations-1.1105217#ixzz1E3yqwnXu

 

[ohiogirl]

I am reading this and thinking you are dumb but not stupid? Who says?

 

[SuziQ]

Ohiogirl, Thank you so much for updating this thread about the trial. What a narcissistic...you know what. IMO, he is dumb for thinking the rest of us are stupid. I hope that is what the jury takes away from that comment.

 

[ohiogirl]

http://citizensvoice.com/news/trial-update-ciavarella-waits-for-jury-verdict-1.1106419#axzz1EFAdtQhR

Waiting for jury verdict. Jury went out Wednesday afternoon.

 

[chemcopout]

this is just horrible, an example of how corrupt and crooked some of our "justice" systems can be.
they need to give these judges at least 25 years minimum each.
they are supposed to be examples of justice, yet they are nothing more than pathetic crooks, so wrought with greed!

 

[ohiogirl]

http://citizensvoice.com/news/trial...ns-to-continue-friday-1.1106419#axzz1EFNbmCKa

jury still deliberating.