3d guilty plea in Luzerne scandal

SCRANTON - A court administrator in northeastern Pennsylvania accused of stealing more than $70,000 in seized gambling proceeds pleaded guilty yesterday to embezzlement.

William Sharkey Sr. is the third figure to plead guilty in an unfolding courthouse corruption scandal in Luzerne County.

Luzerne County Court Judges Mark Ciavarella and Michael Conahan pleaded guilty last week to fraud charges after prosecutors accused them of taking kickbacks to send juvenile offenders to private detention centers.

Sharkey entered his plea in federal court in Scranton. He faces up to 10 years in prison. Federal prosecutors say their corruption probe is ongoing. - AP