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CHANGING FORTUNES Former judge working as painter while awaiting sentencing

By Bill O'Boyle boboyle@timesleader.com
Times Leader Staff Writer
Bill O'Boyle on Facebook   |   @TLBillOboyle on Twitter

WILKES-BARRE – Former Luzerne County judge Mark Ciavarella is painting for a living these days.

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Mark Ciavarella, former Luzerne County judge, paints at a home on McLean Street in Wilkes-Barre.

CLARK VAN ORDEN/THE TIMES LEADER

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Former Luzerne County Judges Michael Conahan, left, and Mark Ciavarella, right, depart the Federal Courthouse in Scranton after facing indictments relating to the Luzerne County corruption probe.

Fred Adams / For Times Leader

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On Thursday, Ciavarella was painting a porch at 313 McLean St. owned by Bob Kadluboski, owner of City Wide Towing.

Kadluboski is a frequent vocal critic of Wilkes-Barre Mayor Tom Leighton and City Council, at times calling them “corrupt” and saying they should be investigated.

“Yes, he (Ciavarella) has been doing odd jobs for me,” Kadluboski said. “He’s not my employee. He’s an independent contractor.”

Kadluboski said Ciavarella has been doing work for other people, but he would not identify any. Ciavarella, through Kadluboski, declined to comment for this story. Kadluboski said he and Ciavarella were “on the road” and the former judge would not comment.

In February, a federal jury convicted Ciavarella of illegally accepting money relating to the construction of the PA Child Care center, but rejected allegations he extorted Robert Powell or accepted money relating to a second juvenile center.

The jury found Ciavarella guilty of racketeering, racketeering conspiracy, money laundering and money laundering conspiracy relating to the $997,600 finder’s fee he received from Robert Mericle, the builder of the center. It also found him guilty of honest services mail fraud for filing fraudulent statements of financial interest with a state agency and five tax counts for filing false tax returns.

He was acquitted on multiple counts of bribery, extortion and money laundering relating to the more than $700,000 that was paid to him and former judge Michael Conahan by Powell, as well as honest services wire fraud relating to money paid by Powell and Mericle. Conahan pleaded guilty last year to one count of racketeering conspiracy.

Both Ciavarella and Conahan are awaiting sentencing.

Kadluboski said Ciavarella has been working for him “on and off” for a few months. The former city contracted tower said he didn’t want to make a big deal out of Ciavarella working for him.

Kadluboski later decided to explain why he occasionally hires Ciavarella for work.

“About 21 years ago, a friend of mine was paralyzed in an accident and Mark Ciavarella was his attorney,” Kadluboski said. “The case took two years to resolve. When the case was settled, Mark Ciavarella sent my friend a letter, and he still has it. The letter informed my friend that Ciavarella wanted him to have their fee of $25,000. He basically worked for nothing.”

Kadluboski said he wanted to do what he could to help Ciavarella out by giving him a few jobs to do.