Latest Luzerne Court Follies News: Administrator Pleads Guilty
The administrator of a troubled Pennsylvania court that has recently seen two top judges plead guilty to criminal charges himself pleaded guilty today in federal court in Scranton to embezzling funds.
William Sharkey, 57, admitted during a brief hearing this morning that he took more than $70,000 in seized illegal gambling money that was to be used for court programs over the past decade, according to the Citizens Voice and the Standard-Speaker.
Sharkey, who had previously been suspended from his court job, will be sentenced at a later date. He could face as much as 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Federal prosecutors say a court corruption probe continues, reports the Associated Press.
Related coverage:
ABAJournal.com: “Luzerne County, Pa., Court Shakeup Expands Exponentially”
ABAJournal.com: “2 Pa. Judges, 2 Lawyers and Others Sued in $2.6M Jail-for-Pay Case”
Citizens Voice: “Court probe aftermath will take years to fix”
Times-Leader: “Judge: Staffer will absorb Guesto’s duties”
