ALLENTOWN, Pa. (AP) — A former Pennsylvania judge who has pleaded guilty to federal corruption charges has denied that he accepted money to send youth offenders to private detention centers.
Former Luzerne County Judge Mark Ciavarella says he did not extort any money from Robert Powell, a lawyer who co-owned the detention centers. Powell pleaded guilty Wednesday to paying kickbacks to Ciavarella and former Luzerne County Judge Michael Conahan. He has said he was extorted by the judges.
Ciavarella and Conahan have pleaded guilty to taking more than $2.6 million in kickbacks from Powell and a builder in exchange for rulings that benefitted the detention centers. The judges await sentencing.
Ciavarella spoke to reporters Thursday after testifying at a hearing in Allentown in an unrelated case.
Former Luzerne County Judge Mark Ciavarella says he did not extort any money from Robert Powell, a lawyer who co-owned the detention centers. Powell pleaded guilty Wednesday to paying kickbacks to Ciavarella and former Luzerne County Judge Michael Conahan. He has said he was extorted by the judges.
Ciavarella and Conahan have pleaded guilty to taking more than $2.6 million in kickbacks from Powell and a builder in exchange for rulings that benefitted the detention centers. The judges await sentencing.
Ciavarella spoke to reporters Thursday after testifying at a hearing in Allentown in an unrelated case.
