By Allan Lengel ticklethewire.com
In a case that was clearly a big big disgrace to the judiciary, ex-Luzrine County, Pa., Judge Michael T. Conahan pleaded guilty Thursday in federal court in the “kids-for-cash” scandal that wrongfully sent some juveniles to jail in exchange for a kickback in cash, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported. He now faces up to 20 years in jail.
His guilty plea, which was entered in Scranton, Pa., also requires the 58-year-old to stop practicing law.
Conahan and Judge Mark A. Ciavarella Jr. were charged last year with getting $2.8 million in kickbacks from the owner of two private juvenile detention facilities. In exchange, they allegedly sent some juveniles to jail who shouldn’t have gone or imposed harsher sentences than normal. Ciavarella plans to go to trial.
Both judges had previously pleaded guilty to fraud charges in a deal that called for 87 month prison terms. But a federal judge rejected that, saying the duo had not fully admitted wrongdoing, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.
To read full story click here.
