Federal judge rejects plea deals for 2 former Pa. judges in alleged $2.6M kickback scheme

Judge rejects plea deals for 2 ex-Pa. judges

PHILADELPHIA — A federal judge has rejected plea agreements for two northeastern Pennsylvania judges in a kickback scheme involving juvenile detention facilities.

U.S. District Judge Edward Kosik says former Luzerne County judges Michael Conahan and Mark Ciavarella have not accepted responsibility for the crimes cited in their guilty pleas.

Conahan and Ciavarella pleaded guilty this year to wire fraud and tax evasion stemming from charges they took $2.6 million in a kids-for-cash scheme involving detention centers.

But Kosik says they have refused to accept responsibility, as required under the agreement.

Conahan has refused to discuss his motive and tried to impede justice, Kosik wrote. Ciavarella voiced remorse in public, but still denies any “quid pro quo,” the judge said.