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Ex-county court administrator, ex-county probation officer both pleaded guilty to federal charges.
Brulo
Sharkey
SCRANTON – After nearly two years of open-ended postponement, a date has been set for the sentencing of former Luzerne County Court Administrator William Sharkey and former Luzerne County Probation Officer Sandra Brulo. Both now are scheduled for June 8 in Scranton.
Sharkey and Brulo each pleaded guilty to federal charges filed in February 2009.
Sharkey admitted taking more than $70,000 from funds seized from illegal gambling proceeds; Brulo admitted she had altered a juvenile record that was part of a federal lawsuit seeking damages for children who allege their civil rights were violated by former county Judge Mark Ciavarella, who was convicted last month on corruption charges.
Sharkey signed a plea agreement Feb. 3, 2009, and pleaded guilty Feb. 17. His sentencing was set for Aug. 6, but his attorneys filed a motion noting they would be out of the area that day, and the judge rescheduled the sentencing to Aug. 3.
Prosecutors then filed a string of sealed documents and the judge issued an order delaying sentencing “until otherwise determined” by the court.
Brulo was initially charged Feb. 20, 2009, and signed a plea agreement March 17. She entered her guilty plea March 26 and was scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 5, 2009.
Her attorney filed a motion to delay sentencing, noting that Brulo “will be testifying” against Ciavarella and former Judge Michael Conahan. The judge then continued the sentencing “generally.”
After initially mounting a joint defense with Ciavarella, Conahan signed a plea agreement in April 2010 and entered a guilty plea in July. He is awaiting sentencing.
While Brulo had been expected to testify at Ciavarella’s trial last month, prosecutors did not call her to the stand.
Their sentencing hearings are scheduled back to back, with Sharkey slated for 10 a.m. and Brulo for 11 a.m.