Sentencing for ex-court administrator Sharkey set

SCRANTON – Former Luzerne County Court administrator William T. Sharkey Sr. is scheduled to be sentenced in federal court on Aug. 6, according to a federal court document filed Wednesday morning.

Sharkey, 57, of West Hazleton, pleaded guilty Feb. 17 to federal charges in the theft of $70,000 in illegal gambling proceeds that were supposed to be turned over to the county treasurer.

He was charged on Feb. 3, nearly five months after going on medical leave. He was terminated from the court position that paid $97,050 a year on Feb. 24.

Sharkey is facing a maximum of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, but prosecutors have agreed to seek a reduced sentence based on his guilty plea.

Authorities may seek to seize his South Broad Street home, a vehicle and part of the money he contributed to his pension in order to satisfy restitution to Luzerne County, according to the plea agreement.

The charges against Sharkey are part of an ongoing judicial corruption probe headlined by charges against former judges Mark Ciavarella and Michael T. Conahan.

Ciavarella and Conahan pleaded guilty to accepting $2.6 million in kickbacks linked to two juvenile detention facilities, including one in Pittston Township. A sentencing hearing for Ciavarella and Conahan has not been scheduled.

According to the federal court document filed Wednesday morning, Sharkey is scheduled to be sentenced before U.S. District Court Judge Edwin M. Kosik.

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