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whoami
Joined: 07 May 2008
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 Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2011 7:16 pm Post subject: Uberliberal lefty scum, jailing all the decent guys as usual |
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Article from Wilkes-Barre Times Leader; apologies if this is too long, but I think it's worth reading the whole article.
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Former Luzerne County Judge Mark Ciavarella was given a sentence that may not be for life, but will keep him in prison until he is 89 years old. U.S. District Judge Edwin Kosik sentenced Ciavarella to 336 months in prison - 28 years for a man who is 61 Ciavarella agreed to voluntarily surrender himself immediately
The sentence came after Ciavarella opened remarks with apologies to family, friends, the public and juveniles,then turned defiant and repeated his claim that he never took money in exchange for sending juveniles to private detention facilities.
U.S. Assistant District Attorney Gordon Zubrod cited that defiance as proof Ciavarella remains unwilling to acknowledge his crimes and actions.
Ciavarella initially apologized to family "for the hurt and embarrassment I caused them by my irresponsible acts." He apologized to the "Citizens of Luzerne County for violating the trust they place in me, and I hope they can some day forgive me. He apologized to the court bench and attorney's bar for shattering public trust. And to the thousands of juveniles who had appeared before him.
"Forgive me for being a hypocrite by not practicing what I preached. I would hope that they would learn from my mistakes and realize that everything we do in life has consequences and that there are dire consequences when we make decisions we know are wrong."
Ciavarella was widely known as a tough judge with a zero tolerance policy who gave juveniles stern advise on staying on the straight and narrow.
But shortly after the apologies, Ciavarella turned to a theme he has struck since first signing a plea agreement in January, 2009 that he later withdrew: He repeated his contention that he never took money in exchange for sending juveniles to private, for profit detention facilities."I Have been called everything - ignorant, cocky, arrogant and unrealistic - for not admitting to crimes I did not commit," he said.
While acknowledging wrongdoing of two others snared in the FBI probe that brought him to this point, Ciavarella also defended former judge Michael Conahan, who has pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentence, and Robert Mericle, who built two juvenile facilities in question and paid Conahan and Ciavarella millions in "finder fees" for helping him get the work.
Ciavarella insisted that, despite their flaws, Conahan and Mericle are not as bad as they've been painted.. "Rob and Mike are good people who have reached out and helped more people in our community than everybody in this room put together," he said. Then he offered a bitter rebuke of Attorney Robert Powell, former co-owner of the juvenile facilities who had testified that Ciavarella had extorted money from him in order to keep the facilities full.
"On the other hand, Bob Powell is a liar and a self-centered individual who would say and do anything to protect himself." Ciavarella said.
Ciavarella also attacked the prosecutors in his case, insisting they had put out the allegation that he took money in exchange for sending juveniles to the facilities, yet never presented evidence in court. This resulted in him being "convicted of a crime I never committed" in public opinion. Ciavarella then urged the government to release all investigative files and let the public decide. The ex-jurist said prosecutors had attempted to indict his daughter twice, including on a money-laundering charge - in an effort to him to plead guilty.
Ciavarella likewise criticized a report from the Interbranch Commission on Juvenile Justice, a special body formed by the state legislature expressly to investigate the situation and recommend changes to prevent future re-occurrences. The Commission had roundly criticized what it characterized as systemic failures in Luzerne County Juvenile Court under Ciavarella. He said he felt the commission had not done enough investigation.
"I had people ready to testify that my court was no different than any other. I don't do anything different from any other judge in this area or in Luzerne County," Ciavarella said, rigorously rejecting claims that he had denied juveniles their legal rights in his court.
U.S. Assistant Attorney Gordon Zubrod cited Ciavarella's statements as yet more proof that he did not accept responsibility for his actions.
"He says the Interbranch Commission got it wrong. He says this court got it wrong. He says the jury got it wrong," Zubrod said. "I leave it to the court to decide if that reflects on his character."
Zubrod recounted one instance from a court transcript in which Ciavarella ordered a juvenile removed in shackles and said for all to hear "Put cuffs on him take him out of here. We're having a good day.
"This is a man who verbally abused and cruelly mocked children,' Zubrod said.
"Mr. Ciavarella's argument is that he was not selling kids retail," Zubrod said at one point. "I agree with that. He was selling them wholesale."
U.S. District Judge Edwin Kosik handed down the 28 year sentence with scant comment, evoking abrupt applause from several audience members. Ciavarella agreed to voluntarily turn himself over immediately. By 10:08 a.m. the hearing was over. By noon, Ciavarella had been whisked away in a vehicle for immediate incarceration. |
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Menino80
Joined: 10 Jun 2007
Location: Hodor?
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| Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2011 10:09 pm Post subject: |
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| So, a guy who is involved in the for profit prison industry gets pinched for engaging in behavior that is pretty much inevitable when the profit motive gets added to a public good? That's uberliberalism to you? Mayhaps you should stay away from society. |
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Ineverlie&I'malwaysri
Joined: 09 Aug 2011
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| Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2011 10:33 pm Post subject: |
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^ Really, what the heck is the thread title all about? The link to the article was not given, but I'll bet my bottom dollar its title was different from this thread.
Anyway, good on the damn corrupt pig judge. Judges are almost never held accountable for the massive injustices they perpetrate. And just like they always try to justify draconian sentences by claiming to "send a message," I hope this sends one to all these other "lock 'em up and throw away the key!" type sentencers.
Now if only we could get some prosecutors. |
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whoami
Joined: 07 May 2008
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| Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2011 4:38 pm Post subject: |
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| The title was meant to blend in with the environment, so to speak. It was an (admittedly ham-fisted) attempt at parody. |
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Ineverlie&I'malwaysri
Joined: 09 Aug 2011
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| Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2011 9:25 pm Post subject: |
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I guess many here do not know whoami, as many do not know who am I (yet) either.
Next time, try an emoticon. |
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Fox
Joined: 04 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2011 9:49 pm Post subject: |
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| Ineverlie&I'malwaysri wrote: |
| as many do not know who am I (yet) either. |
I've no doubt every single regular on CE knows exactly who you are. Your first two posts in combination gave you away. |
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Ineverlie&I'malwaysri
Joined: 09 Aug 2011
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| Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2011 10:45 pm Post subject: |
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| Now, Fox, we know that not everyone is as astute as you. |
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recessiontime
Joined: 21 Jun 2010
Location: Got avatar privileges nyahahaha
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| Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2011 11:43 pm Post subject: |
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| I haven't been frequenting this place that often, maybe some of you can pm me hints? |
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Ya-ta Boy
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Established in 1994
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| Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2011 5:07 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| So, a guy who is involved in the for profit prison industry gets pinched for engaging in behavior that is pretty much inevitable when the profit motive gets added to a public good? |
You're just a bleeding heart liberal. Everyone knows the invisible hand of the free market will correct things, as was demonstrated in this example.
Theory before People. That's what I say. |
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TheUrbanMyth
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Location: Retired
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| Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2011 7:18 pm Post subject: |
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| Ineverlie&I'malwaysri wrote: |
I guess many here do not know whoami, as many do not know who am I (yet) either.
. |
It's not that hard to figure out. |
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Ineverlie&I'malwaysri
Joined: 09 Aug 2011
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| Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2011 11:00 pm Post subject: |
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| TheUrbanMyth wrote: |
| Ineverlie&I'malwaysri wrote: |
I guess many here do not know whoami, as many do not know who am I (yet) either.
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It's not that hard to figure out. |
Maybe not for my faithful stalker, but maybe you can help rt out. |
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TheUrbanMyth
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Location: Retired
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| Posted: Sun Aug 21, 2011 8:45 pm Post subject: |
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| Ineverlie&I'malwaysri wrote: |
| TheUrbanMyth wrote: |
| Ineverlie&I'malwaysri wrote: |
I guess many here do not know whoami, as many do not know who am I (yet) either.
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It's not that hard to figure out. |
Maybe not for my faithful stalker, but maybe you can help rt out. |
Anyone who's been in Current Events for a while can figure it out.
A stalker? You give yourself too much credit. Your posting style, political stance, choice of thread topics and choice of words are dead giveaways.
But welcome back. |
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Captain Corea
Joined: 28 Feb 2005
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2012 5:39 pm Post subject: |
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| Ok then, an obvious question.... Why the need for multiple accounts? |
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