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By CHRISTOPHER J. HUGHES

SCRANTON – With an overflow crowd awaiting entrance to Courtroom 4 inside the William J. Nealon Federal Building on Thursday morning, more than a dozen people – each affected in their own way by former Luzerne County judge Mark Ciavarella, gathered on the sidewalk to await news of his sentencing.

Ciavarella, the former “kids for cash” judge, was convicted on 12 counts including racketeering in February. He is scheduled to be sentenced at 9 a.m.

Among those gathered were “the Clarkers,” a trio including a young man from Pensacola, Fla., and two men dressed respectively as a Texas ranger and Chewbacca, the fictional “Star Wars” character.

“Chewbacca,” who declined to provide his real name, said he went before Ciavarella at age 17 for a minor domestic dispute, his first criminal offense. The Plains Township resident said he was held for processing for three months at PA Child Care, the private juvenile detention facility at the heart of charges against Ciavarella, before eventually serving three more months at Clear Brook.

“I hope we never have to see him again after all the kids that he’s hurt through the years,” he said.

The Plains Township man said he was frustrated that Ciavarella wasn’t convicted on more charges after his February trial.

“He’s a horrible person for what he’s done,” he said.

Also in the crowd was 41-year-old Jeff Pollins of Wilkes-Barre. Pollins’ stepson, Edward Raymond Kenzakoski III, was a state championship wrestler before he appeared before Ciavarella.

Pollins’ partner, Sandy Fonzo, became a national figure in the trial after she confronted the former judge after his conviction. She’s since started a support group for families like hers, affected years after their children were sentenced in abbreviated trials.

“These kids are still affected by it. It’s like post traumatic stress disorder.” Pollins said.

Pollins hopes the former judge will receive a life sentence or something equivalent based on his age.

“Our life is ruined. It’s never going to be the same…I’d like to see that happen to him,” he said.