Michael Conahan
Encyclopedia
Michael Conahan is a former judge from Luzerne County, Pennsylvania
who committed the "Kids for cash" scandal
in
2008 with fellow judge Mark Ciavarella
.
Conahan, as president judge, used his budgetary discretion to stop funding the
county public youth detention facility and agreed to send teens instead to a new private facility. He is accused of agreeing to generate at least $1.3 million per year in costs that could be billed to taxpayers in exchange for kickbacks. He originally pleaded guilty to charges, but later withdrew his
plea. Afterward, he was indicted along with Ciavarella
on charges of money laundering, fraud and racketeering. He eventually plead guilty again, and on September 23, 2011, he was sentenced to 17.5 years in prison.
. He
attended Temple University
, where he received his law degree. He served from
1994-2008 as Judge on the Court of Common Pleas and in January 2008 became
president judge of Luzerne County.
Luzerne County, Pennsylvania
- Demographics :As of the 2010 census, the county was 90.7% White, 3.4% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American, 1.0% Asian, 3.3% were of some other race, and 1.5% were two or more races. 6.7% of the population was of Hispanic or Latino ancestry...
who committed the "Kids for cash" scandal
Kids for cash scandal
The "Kids for cash" scandal unfolded in 2008 over judicial kickbacks at the Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Two judges, President Judge Mark Ciavarella and Senior Judge Michael Conahan, were accused of accepting money from the co-owner and builder of two private,...
in
2008 with fellow judge Mark Ciavarella
Mark Ciavarella
Mark Arthur Ciavarella Jr. is a convicted felon and former President Judge of the Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania who committed, along with fellow judge Michael Conahan, the "Kids for cash" scandal in 2008.In August 2011, Ciavarella was sentenced to 28 years in...
.
Conahan, as president judge, used his budgetary discretion to stop funding the
county public youth detention facility and agreed to send teens instead to a new private facility. He is accused of agreeing to generate at least $1.3 million per year in costs that could be billed to taxpayers in exchange for kickbacks. He originally pleaded guilty to charges, but later withdrew his
plea. Afterward, he was indicted along with Ciavarella
on charges of money laundering, fraud and racketeering. He eventually plead guilty again, and on September 23, 2011, he was sentenced to 17.5 years in prison.
Biography
Conahan was born April 21, 1952 in HazletonHazleton, Pennsylvania
Hazleton is a city in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 25,340 at the 2010 census, an increase of 8.6% from the 2000 census count .-Greater Hazleton:...
. He
attended Temple University
Temple University
Temple University is a comprehensive public research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Originally founded in 1884 by Dr. Russell Conwell, Temple University is among the nation's largest providers of professional education and prepares the largest body of professional...
, where he received his law degree. He served from
1994-2008 as Judge on the Court of Common Pleas and in January 2008 became
president judge of Luzerne County.