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By Terrie Morgan-Besecker tmorgan@timesleader.com
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FILE - County Commissioner Greg Skrepenak, standing in line of projected words of his PowerPoint presentation, wipes his eye as he presents his action plan for reassessment in August 2008.

S.John Wilkin/The Times Leader

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HARRISBURG - A spokesman for Gov. Ed Rendell's office confirmed the governor has received the resignation of Luzerne County Commissioner Greg Skrepenak.

The one-sentence letter  was faxed to the governor's office at 3:41 p.m.

"Please accept this letter as my notification to you that I am hereby resigning as commissioner of Luzerne County effective at the close of business on Thursday, Dec. 17, 2009," the letter states.

A source familiar with the county corruption probe told The Times Leader that Skrepenak signed a plea agreement with the U.S. Attorney's office on Wednesday. The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said prosecutors will file a criminal complaint against Skrepenak on Friday.

Skrepenak issued a statement Thursday afternoon in which he apologizes for "mistakes" he has made, but he does not directly acknowledge he will be charged.

Luzerne County President Judge Chester Muroski has called a press conference at the courthouse for 4:45 p.m. to discuss Skrepenak's resignation and the procedure that will be utilized to appoint a replacement.

UPDATED 3:25 p.m.

WILKES-BARRE - Luzerne County Commissioner Greg Skrepenak has issued a statement in which he confirms he is resigning and apologizing for "mistakes he has made."

The statement, released by attorney Peter Moses, says Skrepenak did not realize he had done anything wrong until he met with authorities.

"They demonstrated to me the mistakes I made and now I must hold myself accountable for those mistakes and accept the consequences, no matter how difficult that may be," the statement says.

The statement does not specifically state what wrongdoing Skrepenak engaged in.

"I again want to stress my heartfelt sorrow for what has taken place. I can say without hesitation that I never intended to do wrong," the statement says.

 UPDATED 2:50 p.m.

HARRISBURG -   An attorney for Luzerne County Commissioner Greg Skrepenak said Skrepenak has sent in a letter of  resignation to Gov. Ed Rendell’s office. The resignation comes one day after a source said Skrepenak signed a plea agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s office.

 Attorney Peter Moses confirmed Skrepenak planned to fax the letter of resignation to Rendell’s office some time around 3 p.m. today.

"It is my understanding Mr. Skrepenak has already sent in or is in the process of sending official notice of his resignation to Governor Rendell," Moses said in an interview at around 3:10 p.m.

 A source familiar with the corruption probe said Skrepenak signed a plea agreement on Wednesday with the U.S. Attorney’s office.

 The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, could not say what specific charge Skrepenak will plead to, but said the case is related to the ongoing corruption probe.

 Prosecutors are expected to file a criminal complaint, along with the plea agreement, on Friday.

Moses declined to comment on whether Skrepenak will be charged.

For further updates check back with www.timesleader.com

UPDATED 1:43 P.M.

SCRANTON – Luzerne County Commissioner Greg Skrepenak has signed a plea agreement to a corruption charge and will resign from office today, a source familiar with the county corruption probe said.

Skrepenak signed the plea agreement on Wednesday with the U.S. Attorney’s office, said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

 The source could not say what specific charge Skrepenak will plead to, but said the case is related to the ongoing corruption probe.

 Prosecutors are expected to file a criminal complaint, along with the plea agreement, either today or Friday, the source said.

 Skrepenak could not immediately be reached for comment. A message on his cell phone said it has been disconnected or is out of service.

 Attorney Peter Moses confirmed he is representing Skrepenak, but declined to comment further.

 Speculation that Skrepenak would be charged has been rampant for months.

 In an interview on Nov. 20, Skrepenak said he expected to be questioned by federal prosecutors, but denied that he had committed any crime.

 “In my mind I do not believe I did anything wrong,” Skrepenak said.

 Contacted this afternoon, Luzerne County President Judge Chester Muroski said he had not independently confirmed the information obtained by The Times Leader.

 Muroski said he is setting up a meeting with the other judges this afternoon to discuss the procedure that would be used to select a commissioner to replace Skrepenak.

 The replacement must be a Democrat. County minority commissioner Stephen A. Urban said he hopes the judges don’t pick a “yes man.”

 It’s not clear what impact Skrepenak’s resignation will have on the budget vote. Commissioner Chairwoman Maryanne Petrilla, also a Democrat, needs a second vote to implement a tax increase that would avoid severe staff cuts.

 For further updates check back with www.timesleader.com

Posted 1:07 p.m.

SCRANTON – Luzerne County Commissioner Greg Skrepenak has signed a plea agreement to a corruption charge and will resign from office today, a source familiar with the county corruption probe said.

 Skrepenak signed the plea agreement on Wednesday with the U.S. Attorney’s office, said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

 The source could not say what specific charges Skrepenak will plead to, but said the case is related to the ongoing corruption probe.  

 For further updates check back with www.timesleader.com