Luzerne County Judges

April 29, 2010

UPDATE - Attorney: Ciavarella has no plans to plead guilty despite Conahan deal

By Terrie Morgan-Besecker tmorgan@timesleader.com
Law & Order Reporter   |   Terrie Morgan-Besecker on Facebook   |   @TLTerrieMorgan on Twitter

SCRANTON - Former Luzerne County judge Mark Ciavarella has no intention of pleading guilty despite a deal reached today with his co-defendant, Michael Conahan, Ciavarella's attorney said.

Attorney Al Flora Jr. said Ciavarella continues to maintain his innocence and is planning to go to trial on a 48-count indictment that was filed against and Conahan in September.

Conahan signed a plea agreement with federal prosecutors today that calls for him to plead guilty to a single count of racketeering conspiracy. All other charges, which included bribery, extortion, mail fraud, and honest services fraud, will be dismissed.

The plea deal also calls for Conahan to forego any opposition to a forfeiture action and to surrender his law license.

The agreement does not include a cooperation clause. Flora said as far as he knows, Conahan does not intend to testify against Ciavarella.

"His attitude is he is presumed innocent. The prosecution has to prove their case,” Flora said of Ciavarella. “We have no reason to believe Conahan is going to testify against him.”

Posted 1:46 p.m.

SCRANTON - Former Luzerne County Judge Michael Conahan has signed a plea agreement with federal prosecutors to plead guilty to a single count of racketeering conspiracy.

 The plea agreement was filed this afternoon in federal court in Scranton.

For further updates check back with www.timesleader.com

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