May 28, 2010
The attorney for Judge Mark Ciavarella said the judge will not admit to all the allegations contained in a complaint filed against him by federal authorities this afternoon.
Attorney Al Flora said the information contained in the complaint is “simply allegations.” The precise facts that Ciavarella will admit to will not be known until he actually appears before a judge to enter the plea, Flora said.
Flora explained that the plea agreement Ciavarella signed Friday is a “conditional plea.” At the time Ciavarella appears in court, the U.S. Attorneys office will have to recite evidence in support of the various allegations. Ciavarella would then have to decide whether to admit to those particular facts.
Flora said Ciavarella is not admitting to all the information included in the complaint. If the government presents facts in support of each of those allegations, Ciavarella will not agree to enter the plea, he said.
“I can tell you, Judge Ciavarella will not admit to every one of those allegations,” Flora said.
Ciavarella and Judge Michael Conahan were charged today with receiving more than $2.6 million in exchange for favorable rulings they issued on behalf of the Pa Child Care and Western Pa Child Juvenile Detention facilities that were once owned by Butler Township attorney Robert Powell.
For the complete story, read Tuesday's Times Leader.
View story as PDF
Times Leader Commenting Guidelines