Northeast
Biden stirs outrage in Scranton by commuting 'kids for cash' judge's sentence
President Biden has sparked anger among Pennsylvanians after he commuted the sentence of a corrupt judge who was jailed for more than 17 years after he was caught taking kickbacks for sending juveniles to for-profit detention facilities.
In what came to be known as the kids-for-cash scandal, former Judge Michael Conahan shut down a county-run juvenile detention center and shared $2.8 million in illegal payments from the builder and co-owner of two for-profit lockups. Another judge, Mark Ciavarella, was also involved in the illicit scheme, the effects of which are still felt today among victims and families.
The scandal is considered Pennsylvania’s largest-ever judicial corruption scheme with the state’s supreme court throwing out some 4,000 juvenile convictions involving more than 2,300 kids after the scheme was uncovered.
BIDEN COMMUTES 1,500 JAIL SENTENCES, GRANTS PARDONS FOR 39 OTHERS: ‘LARGEST SINGLE-DAY GRANT OF CLEMENCY’
Former Luzerne County Court Judges Michael Conahan, front left, and Mark Ciavarella, front right, leave the United States District Courthouse in Scranton, Pa., on Sept. 15, 2009. (AP Photo/The Citizens’ Voice, Mark Moran)
Conahan, 72, pleaded guilty in 2010 to one count of racketeering conspiracy but was released from prison to home confinement in 2020 because of COVID-19 health concerns with six years left in his sentence.
But Biden, the so-called favorite son of Scranton, commuted his sentence Thursday as part of the largest single-day act of clemency in modern history in which he commuted jail sentences for nearly 1,500 people and granted 39 pardons.
“My Administration will continue reviewing clemency petitions to advance equal justice under the law, promote public safety, support rehabilitation and reentry, and provide meaningful second chances,” Biden said.
The decision has raised questions as to why Biden would choose to commute the sentence of a judge who is detested in the area.
Fox News has reached out to the White House for comment but has not received a response.
Sandy Fonzo, who once confronted Ciavarella outside federal court after her son was placed in juvenile detention and committed suicide, said that the president’s actions were an “injustice” and “deeply painful.”
“I am shocked and I am hurt,” Fonzo said in a statement, per The Citizens Voice. “Conahan‘s actions destroyed families, including mine, and my son’s death is a tragic reminder of the consequences of his abuse of power. This pardon feels like an injustice for all of us who still suffer. Right now I am processing and doing the best I can to cope with the pain that this has brought back.”
The scheme began in 2002 when Conahan shut down the state juvenile detention center and used money from the Luzerne County budget to fund a multimillion-dollar lease for the private facilities.
WHO ELSE MIGHT BIDEN PARDON AFTER HE SPARED HUNTER FROM SENTENCING?
In this Feb. 18, 2011 file photo, Sandy Fonzo of Wilkes-Barre, right, confronts former Luzerne County Judge Mark A. Ciavarella Jr., as he leaves the federal courthouse in Scranton Pa. Fonzo’s son, who was jailed when he was 17 by Ciavarella, committed suicide at the age of 23. (AP Photo/The ScrantonTimes-Tribune, Michael J. Mullen)
Ciavarella, who presided over juvenile court, pushed a zero-tolerance policy that guaranteed large numbers of kids would be sent to PA Child Care and its sister facility, Western PA Child Care.
Ciavarella ordered children as young as 8 to detention, many of them first-time offenders deemed delinquent for petty theft, jaywalking, truancy, smoking on school grounds and other minor infractions. The judge often ordered youths he had found delinquent to be immediately shackled, handcuffed and taken away without giving them a chance to put up a defense or even say goodbye to their families.
In 2022, both Conahan and Ciavarella were ordered to pay more than $200 million to nearly 300 people they victimized, although it’s unlikely the now-adult victims will see even a fraction of the damages award.
During the case, one victim described how he shook uncontrollably during a routine traffic stop — a consequence of the traumatizing impact of his childhood detention — and had to show his mental health records in court to “explain why my behavior was so erratic.”
Several of the childhood victims who were part of the lawsuit when it began in 2009 have since died from overdoses or suicide, prosecutors said.
President Biden speaks at a “Christmas Dinner for All” in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, US, on Dec. 10, 2024. Biden commuted jail sentences for nearly 1,500 people and granted 39 pardons. (Samuel Corum/Sipa/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
The scheme, per The Citizens Voice, involved former Pennsylvania attorney Robert Powell paying Ciavarella and Conahan $770,000, who in turn funneled juvenile defendants to two private, for-profit detention centers Powell partly owned.
Powell served an 18-month prison sentence after pleading guilty to felony counts of failing to report a felony and being an accessory to a conspiracy.
Real estate developer Robert K. Mericle paid the judges $2.1 million and was later charged with failing to disclose to investigators and a grand jury that he knew the judges were defrauding the government. Mericle served one year in federal prison, per The Citizens Voice.
Ciavarella is serving a 28-year prison sentence on honest services mail fraud charges, per the publication.
Fox News’ Matt Finn and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Noah Day hit an RBI double and Chace Lubchansky ended the game with a walk-off single as top-seeded Fryeburg Academy rallied for two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to beat fourth-seeded Cape Elizabeth, 4-3, in a Class B South baseball semifinal Saturday in Fryeburg.
Fryeburg (15-3) advances to play No. 3 Greely in the regional final on Tuesday in Standish.
The Raiders pulled within a run in the bottom of the fifth when Day scored on an error. Cape (12-6) had taken the lead in the fourth on an RBI double by Finn Connolly, who scored on an error to make it 3-1.
Connolly also had an RBI single in the first inning. Fryeburg scored on an error in the bottom of the first.
GREELY 7, LEAVITT 2: Jonah Clorius pitched a two-hitter and the third-seeded Rangers (13-5) scored five runs in the third inning on their way to a Class B South semifinal win over the second-seeded Hornets (15-3) in Turner.
Clorius allowed one earned run while striking out four and walking two.
Kyle Soule and Jarrett Bush both had two hits and drove in two runs for Greely. Rocky Axelson hit a triple and scored twice.
Ryder Sawyer-Brown and Brody Poland each had a hit for Leavitt.
MARANACOOK 6, OLD ORCHARD BEACH 5: The second-seeded Black Bears (16-2) took a 6-0 lead in the first inning and held off the third-seeded Seagulls (13-5) in a Class C South semifinal in Readfield.
Cam Jones had three hits and two RBI for Maranacook, which advances to the regional final Tuesday at the University of Southern Maine against No. 1 Monmouth Academy. Will Watson had two hits and scored two runs.
Wes Gallant and Aiden Hodgkins both had two hits for Old Orchard Beach, which scored four runs in the sixth and one in the seventh before its comeback bid fell short.
MONMOUTH ACADEMY 13, WAYNFLETE/NYA 3: Bryce Fletcher drove in three runs and Jake Harmon and Noah Schultz knocked in two apiece as the defending Class C champions (17-1) advanced to the regional final by taking down Waynflete/NYA (11-7) in a Class C South semifinal in Monmouth.
Monmouth, the No. 1 seed, will face No. 2 Maranacook (16-2) for the regional championship Tuesday at the University of Southern Maine. The Black Bears dealt the Mustangs their only loss of the season, 3-2, on April 29.
Fletcher finished with three hits, including a double, and scored three runs. Rory and Zane Foyt each had two hits and drove in a run.
Kellen Gardiner doubled and had three of fifth-seeded Waynflete/NYA’s seven hits.
SOFTBALL
CHEVERUS 10, GORHAM 0: Addison DeRoche struck out 10, and the top-seeded Stags (18-0) earned a spot in the Class A South final with a five-inning win over the fourth-seeded Rams (14-4) in Portland.
Cheverus which will face second-seeded Bonny Eagle on Tuesday in Auburn. The Stags are the No. 1 team in the Varsity Maine poll.
DeRoche allowed four hits and walked one.
The game was scoreless until the fourth, when Cheverus struck for five runs. The Stags put the mercy rule into effect by adding five runs in the fifth.
Sadie Collins had two hits, two RBI and scored twice. Anna Goodman and Anna Kennedy-Jensen also recorded two hits, and Tempy Lovejoy smacked a double, as did Goodman.
Sawyer VonderHaar hit a double for Gorham.
LAKE REGION 5, YORK 1: Haley Hamlin struck out 11 while throwing a four-hitter and also was 2 for 3 at the plate as the third-seeded Lakers (14-4) beat the No. 2 Wildcats (16-2) in a Class B South semifinal in York.
Lake Region opened the scoring with two runs in the second inning, then added two more in the third on consecutive singles by Haley Hamlin, Ava Cole and Vylet Robbins.
Emily Blake drove in York’s run with a single in the fourth inning.
The Lakers will play for the regional title Tuesday at St. Joseph’s College against top-seeded Medomak Valley.
NORTH YARMOUTH ACADEMY 10, FOREST HILLS 0: Lily Fortin homered for the game’s first run and struck out 14 while pitching a one-hitter as the second-seeded Panthers (16-1) defeated the third-seeded Tigers (14-3) in a five-inning Class D South semifinal in Yarmouth.
Fortin and Cami Casserly (two hits) both drove in two runs. NYA broke the game open with six runs in the fourth inning.
In the circle, Fortin walked two and allowed only two hitters to put the ball in play. Losing pitcher Janessa Moffitt got the lone hit for Forest Hills.
NYA will play No. 1 Buckfield in the regional final Tuesday at St. Joseph’s College.
DIRIGO 9, OLD ORCHARD BEACH 1: Leah Turnbull tossed a one-hitter, and the top-seeded Cougars (17-1) rolled past the No. 5 Seagulls (10-8) in a Class C South semifinal in Dixfield.
Dirigo will meet second-seeded Monmouth Academy (16-2) in the regional final Tuesday at the University of Southern Maine.
Turnbull struck out four and didn’t allow a walk. She also contributed offensively with a hit, a run and an RBI.
The Cougars finished with 13 hits and didn’t strike out once. Xandria Libby went 3 for 3 and drove in a run. Lana Waite and Abby Luczynski each had a single and a double, Emma Witas also notched two hits, and Zoey Bordeau drove in two runs and scored twice.
Reagan Partridge scored Old Orchard Beach’s run on an RBI double from Hannah Webber.
GIRLS LACROSSE
KENNEBUNK 15, BONNY EAGLE 5: Anna McCarron recorded four goals and two assists to lead the top-seeded Rams (14-1) to a Class A quarterfinal win over the eighth-seeded Scots (9-7) in Kennebunk.
Camdyn Keenan added a goal and seven assists for Kennebunk, the No. 1 team in the Varsity Maine poll. The Rams face No. 4 Cheverus on Wednesday.
Julianna Urban added three goals, Alexandra Foy, Helen Kennie and Madeline Dowling both scored twice, and Sofia Olsen had one goal. Kennebunk’s Eliza Nass and Brielle Thompson combined for five saves.
Elizabeth Hamilton led Bonny Eagle with two goals. Caroline Krunkkala, Kalia Davis and Allie Ryan each were the other goal scorers.
A year later and the ending turned out to be the exact same for the Brookline and Needham boys volleyball teams.
The No. 2 Warriors took home the Division 1 state title for the second year in a row over their Bay State Conference rival and top-seeded Rockets with a 3-1 victory (25-20, 25-22, 23-25, 25-17).
It took two days for Brookline to capture the hardware and a change in venue as the match was suspended Friday night midway through the second set due to poor floor conditions caused by moisture.
The restart at Hopkinton High didn’t halt any of Brookline’s momentum after it took the first set Friday night as the Warriors won the second set, 25-22, before Needham rallied to win the third frame, 25-23.
Brookline bounced back, though, and got a final kill from Amir Tomer to send the Warriors into celebration.
Along with taking down Needham, Brookline also defeated Woburn (3-0), Arlington (3-0), Newton South (3-1) and Natick (3-2) en route to its state title.
HUDSON, N.H. — A 70‑year‑old Hudson man is behind bars after police say he rammed another vehicle in a road‑rage attack on Thursday afternoon, tried to pull open the driver’s door and later registered twice the legal limit on a breath test.
Richard Feener was arrested at his home about 30 minutes after the confrontation at Library and Central streets, where a Litchfield, New Hampshire, couple — a 66‑year‑old man and 67‑year‑old woman — told police their SUV was struck multiple times by a white Ford Escape that had been tailgating them since Lowell Road, according to the Hudson Police Department.
The couple told police that at about 3:45 p.m. Feener threw what they described as a “temper tantrum” before intentionally crashing into the rear of their vehicle three times. Police said he then got out, approached the driver’s side door and tried to pull it open while yelling, before returning to his SUV and sideswiping their vehicle as he fled.
No injuries were reported.
A third‑party witness allegedly confirmed the tailgating, the confrontation at the door and the intentional sideswipe.
Police said they traced the Ford’s veteran license plate to Feener’s home on Barbara Lane about 30 minutes after the reported incident. There they found the SUV with a warm hood and fresh damage consistent with the victims’ account.
According to police, Feener told officers from his doorway that he had been home for about four hours and admitted to drinking but claimed he had not driven recently.
When officers pointed out the fresh damage on his vehicle, he allegedly said it had been there for a while. Police said that they could smell the odor of alcohol on his breath, and when asked what time it was, Feener said it was 8 p.m. despite it being hours earlier.
In addition to appearing intoxicated, and giving inconsistent statements, he struggled to complete field sobriety tests. A breath test later registered a blood‑alcohol concentration of 0.16, according to police.
Feener was charged with three counts of reckless conduct with a deadly weapon, a Class B felony; aggravated driving while intoxicated, a Class A misdemeanor; driving under the influence, a Class B misdemeanor; conduct after an accident, a Class A misdemeanor; and disorderly conduct, a violation.
At his arraignment Friday in Nashua District Court, Judge Amy Manchester entered no plea on the felony charges and not guilty pleas on the misdemeanors and violations.
Prosecutors acknowledged the seriousness of the allegations but noted Feener has “little to absolutely no criminal or vehicle history,” citing only a 2002 Massachusetts assault‑and‑battery case that was continued without a finding — a disposition in which a defendant admits the facts but avoids a conviction if they complete probation.
The prosecution described Wednesday’s incident as a “one‑off” and requested $500 cash bail with conditions including no driving, no contact with the victims and mandatory drug and alcohol treatment. The defense agreed, saying the episode stemmed from a substance‑abuse issue.
Manchester rejected the joint recommendation.
“Despite your agreement, I can’t accept this,” she told the attorneys.
Turning to Feener, she added, “I find you to be a danger to the community, and I am going to detain you without bail.”
Feener is scheduled to return to court for a probable cause hearing at 10 a.m. on June 22.
Follow Aaron Curtis on X @aselahcurtis, or on Bluesky @aaronscurtis.bsky.social.
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