WILKES-BARRE, Pa. (AP) - The Supreme Court says it won’t hear an appeal from a former northeastern Pennsylvania judge convicted in the “kids for cash” scandal.
Former Luzerne County Judge Mark Ciavarella Jr. (shiv-uh-REL’-uh) is serving a 28-year prison sentence after his 2011 conviction on federal corruption charges. Prosecutors say Ciavarella and a second judge took millions of dollars from the owner and build of two for-profit juvenile detention centers where he was sending thousands of young offenders.
A jury convicted Ciavarella on 12 of 27 counts, including racketeering and conspiracy. His former colleague Michael Conahan pleaded guilty to a racketeering charge.
The Supreme Court declined Monday to take up Ciavarella’s appeal, meaning his conviction and sentence stands.
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