Eachus Knew About Problems With Powell's Juvenile Facility In 2006- Casino Connection

In the Channel 13 debate between House Majority Leader Todd Eachus and formidable challenger Attorney Tarah Toohil, Eachus made the claim that he broke off ties with Robert Powell over the proposed cargo airport outside of Hazleton once he found out about the corruption. He also stated that "..not a penny of tax dollars went to that project."

Let's examine his claims and see if they pass the smell test.

First, the picture above is a scan of a disc/dvd presented to the press and attendees at the press conference held January 31, 2007 at 1:00P.M. to announce the proposed cargo airport by partner/now admitted felon Robert Powell. As you can see it was produced by the Legislative Communications Office and contains the "Seal of the House of Representatives". That proves Eachus lied about "not one penny of tax dollars went to that project."

Let's move on.

On October 14, 2009 the Interbranch Commission on Juvenile Justice held a hearing at the Pennsylvania Judicial Center in Harrisburg. Here is a link to the transcript of that hearing.

Todd Eachus's testimony begins on page 28 of that transcript.

He was asked "Are you aware of any complaints that have been filed wither with the Disciplinary Board, which regulates attorneys; the Judicial Conduct Board, which regulates judges,; or any other governmental investigative agencies?" Eachus's response was "No, I'm not. But to Mr.--one of the Commissioner's questions, asa a member of the Northeast delegation, it would have been around 2006, we were briefed by the Department of Public Welfare, and there were a number of people who came before the delegation to talk about the increased rates of incarceration at the juvenile level in Luzerne County."

"I think they would have been led by Mr. Cohn, who is the legislative liason for the Department, still is, for the Rendell Administration. I can't recollect exactly who the others were within the department, but there was a significant spike in incarceration which, you know, retrospectively today having conversations with the administration did not get through in a way that helped changed the system."

He goes onto state "It is troubling though that that kind of data from a state agency couldn't get through to the court system in order to help rearticulate a direction or review of the juvenile system in Luzerne County."

When asked if there was any follow up meeting Eachus conveys who the delegation was at the time. "It would have been Representative Phyllis Mundy; Kevin Blaum; who is now retired; a number of other members of Luzerne County and northeast delegation who would have been part of that briefing by the Department."

There wasn't much we could do about it legislatively because the interaction was administrative and they said not to worry, that they were going to handle it. But they wanted to raise the concern with the delegation.

There wasn't much we could do about it but they wanted to raise the concern with the delegation. I don't believe I took that paragraph out of context.

By Judge Gibbons:

Q: Mr. Leader, do you have constituents that came to your office registering complaints during the operative time frame regarding what was going on in the juvenile justice system in Luzerne County?

Eachus: I had one couple, and I'm happy to do some research to provide the information. I looked back at it. It would have been somewhere in 2006. A young couple came to me relating to incarceration of their daughter. It would have been a young girl in high school age.

Q: Could you tell us what you did?

Eachus: Well, I reached out to the court administrator....The family expressed to me that -- that the young lady was incarcerated for this theft, that she did not have any jewelry in her possession.

They were unaware that she stole anything, but the terms of the incarceration wre that if she did not return the jewelry, that she would stay in the detention center, the juvenile detention center in Luzerne County, for an indeterminate period, which I thought was a strange practice as related to how young people in the juvenile system would be incarcerated."

"I inquired. And I can't tell you whether my inquiry helped or didn't, but I can check back on my records."

I inquired but can't tell you whether it helped or not. Shesh.

That testimony is some of the most inculpatory words regarding knowledge of plain old "something ain't right here" that should spark the offensive flames in any father's mind.

Let's get to the timeline here.

2006- Eachus is told about problems at the juvenile detention facility owned in part by now admitted felon Robert Powell.

He accepts this donation from Powell.
Contributor Date Amount
Robert Powell
Drums , PA 18222 6/12/2006 $340.00
Occupation: lawyer
Employer: PA
Description: Monetary Contribution-
Recipient: Friends of Todd Eachus
Report: 2006 Cycle 4

January 31, 2007- At 1:00P.M. there is a press conference to announce a proposed cargo airport outside of Hazleton. Representative Todd Eachus, Robert Powell, and Greg Skrepenak attended that conference among others.

January 31, 2007- Eachus accepts a ride on Robert Powell's jet from and to Harrisburg.

Then he accepts the following donation six days later from admitted felon Robert Powell's PAC.

February 6, 2007-
Contributor Date Amount
Conservatives for Good Government
Sugarloaf, PA 18249 2/8/2007 $5,000.00
Occupation: -
Employer: PA
Description: Monetary Contribution-
Recipient: Friends of Todd Eachus
Report: 2007 Cycle 2

On Jun 18, 2007 Representative Dwight Evans introduces a budget bill in the House. On June 28, 2007 Representative Todd Eachus offers an amendment to that bill inserting $250 million worth of funding for Powell's proposed cargo airport outside of Hazleton.

Eachus's claim that he broke off ties with Robert Powell once he found out about the corruption is classic misdirection to the public about his real knowledge. According to his sworn testimony he knew "things weren't right in Denmark" in 2006. His platitudes are incomprehensible and incompatible with common sense and basic values. He continued to accept contributions and rides on Powell's jet.

The following is flight activity for Robert Powell's jet, N69WU. Maybe Mr. Eachus could explain to the public whether he was on any of these flights. In particular did he fly to the Bahamas, San Salvador, or the trip to the Final Four in St. Louis or Las Vegas that occured the same trip in March, 2007?  Start from the bottom of the list up to follow the flights.

Activity Log
History Search for N69WU
Date Type Origin Destination Departure Arrival Duration
28-Nov-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Northeast Philadelphia (KPNE)
08:37AM EST 09:00AM EST 0:23
20-Nov-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Intl (KAVP)
11:27AM EST 11:36AM EST 0:09
20-Nov-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Northeast Philadelphia (KPNE)
11:27AM EST Diverted
11-Nov-2007
SBR1/L Morristown Muni (KMMU)
Manchester (KMHT)
07:14PM EST 07:50PM EST 0:36
11-Nov-2007
SBR1/L Palm Beach Intl (KPBI)
Morristown Muni (KMMU)
04:13PM EST 06:22PM EST 2:09
11-Nov-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Palm Beach Intl (KPBI)
12:20PM EST 02:32PM EST 2:12
10-Nov-2007
SBR1/L Minot Intl (KMOT)
Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
04:50PM CST 08:13PM EST 2:23
10-Nov-2007
SBR1/L Saskatoon J G Diefenbaker Int'l (CYXE)
Minot Intl (KMOT)
09:22PM GMT 04:08PM CST 0:46
10-Nov-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Saskatoon J G Diefenbaker Int'l (CYXE)
11:17AM EST 08:15PM GMT 3:58
08-Nov-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Manchester (KMHT)
02:52PM EST 03:33PM EST 0:41
06-Nov-2007
SBR1/L Palm Beach Intl (KPBI)
Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
09:29PM EST 11:28PM EST 1:59
06-Nov-2007
SBR1/L Morristown Muni (KMMU)
Palm Beach Intl (KPBI)
05:37PM EST 08:49PM EST 3:12
06-Nov-2007
SBR1/L Pittsburgh Intl (KPIT)
Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
04:12PM EST 04:43PM EST 0:31
06-Nov-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Pittsburgh Intl (KPIT)
10:52AM EST 11:33AM EST 0:41
05-Nov-2007
SBR1/W Saskatoon J G Diefenbaker Int'l (CYXE)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Intl (KAVP)
03:44PM GMT 01:49PM EST 3:05
05-Nov-2007
SBR1/L Saskatoon J G Diefenbaker Int'l (CYXE)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Intl (KAVP)
03:44PM GMT result unknown (?)
n/a
04-Nov-2007
SBR1/L Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Intl (KAVP)
Saskatoon J G Diefenbaker Int'l (CYXE)
05:20PM EST 02:10AM GMT (+1) 3:50
04-Nov-2007
SBR1/L Laurence G Hanscom Fld (KBED)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Intl (KAVP)
03:50PM EST 04:43PM EST 0:53
04-Nov-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Laurence G Hanscom Fld (KBED)
02:06PM EST 02:58PM EST 0:52
02-Nov-2007
SBR1/L Laurence G Hanscom Fld (KBED)
Allegheny County (KAGC)
03:28PM EDT 04:35PM EDT 1:07
02-Nov-2007
SBR1/L Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Intl (KAVP)
Laurence G Hanscom Fld (KBED)
01:26PM EDT 02:59PM EDT 1:33
02-Nov-2007
SBR1/L Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Intl (KAVP)
Norwood Memorial (KOWD)
01:26PM EDT Diverted
01-Nov-2007
SBR1/L Allegheny County (KAGC)
Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
11:09AM EDT 11:39AM EDT 0:30
01-Nov-2007
SBR1/L Morristown Muni (KMMU)
Allegheny County (KAGC)
09:50AM EDT 10:44AM EDT 0:54
01-Nov-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Morristown Muni (KMMU)
09:00AM EDT 09:16AM EDT 0:16
17-Oct-2007
SBR1/L Morristown Muni (KMMU)
Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
04:35PM EDT 04:41PM EDT 0:06
17-Oct-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Morristown Muni (KMMU)
03:30PM EDT 03:57PM EDT 0:27
17-Oct-2007
SBR1/L Capital City (KCXY)
Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
03:02PM EDT 03:23PM EDT 0:21
17-Oct-2007
SBR1/L Morristown Muni (KMMU)
Capital City (KCXY)
10:02AM EDT 10:43AM EDT 0:41
17-Oct-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Morristown Muni (KMMU)
08:51AM EDT 09:08AM EDT 0:17
13-Oct-2007
SBR1/L Yampa Valley (KHDN)
Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
02:40PM MDT 07:41PM EDT 3:01
08-Oct-2007
SBR1/L Fort Dodge Rgnl (KFOD)
Yampa Valley (KHDN)
11:00AM CDT 10:30AM MDT 0:30
08-Oct-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Sidney Muni/Lloyd W. Carr Field (KSNY)
06:58AM EDT 08:19AM MDT 3:21
08-Oct-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Fort Dodge Rgnl (KFOD)
06:58AM EDT Diverted
02-Oct-2007
SBR1/L Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Intl (KAVP)
Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
09:20AM EDT 09:28AM EDT 0:08
02-Oct-2007
SBR1/L Northeast Philadelphia (KPNE)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Intl (KAVP)
08:27AM EDT 08:50AM EDT 0:23
02-Oct-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Northeast Philadelphia (KPNE)
07:31AM EDT 07:55AM EDT 0:24
21-Sep-2007
SBR1/L Cincinnati Muni Airport Lunken Field (KLUK)
Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
06:26PM EDT 07:34PM EDT 1:08
21-Sep-2007
SBR1/L Northeast Philadelphia (KPNE)
Cincinnati Muni Airport Lunken Field (KLUK)
04:32PM EDT 05:47PM EDT 1:15
21-Sep-2007
SBR1/L Cincinnati Muni Airport Lunken Field (KLUK)
Northeast Philadelphia (KPNE)
09:34AM EDT 10:56AM EDT 1:22
21-Sep-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Cincinnati Muni Airport Lunken Field (KLUK)
06:58AM EDT 08:08AM EDT 1:10
15-Sep-2007
SBR1/L Norwood Memorial (KOWD)
Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
01:36PM EDT 01:48PM EDT 0:12
15-Sep-2007
SBR1/L Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Intl (KAVP)
Norwood Memorial (KOWD)
12:26PM EDT 01:14PM EDT 0:48
15-Sep-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Intl (KAVP)
11:22AM EDT 11:29AM EDT 0:07
14-Sep-2007
SBR1/L Butler County/K W Scholter Field (KBTP)
Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
01:58PM EDT result unknown (?)
n/a
14-Sep-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Butler County/K W Scholter Field (KBTP)
12:48PM EDT 01:36PM EDT 0:48
07-Sep-2007
SBR1/L Morristown Muni (KMMU)
Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
09:30AM EDT 09:38AM EDT 0:08
07-Sep-2007 SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Morristown Muni (KMMU)
08:39AM EDT 08:42AM EDT n/a
07-Sep-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Morristown Muni (KMMU)
08:30AM EDT 08:31AM EDT 0:01
06-Sep-2007
SBR1/L Fort Lauderdale Executive (KFXE)
Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
07:06PM EDT 09:25PM EDT 2:19
29-Aug-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Fort Lauderdale Executive (KFXE)
06:16AM EDT 08:38AM EDT 2:22
28-Aug-2007
SBR1/G Morristown Muni (KMMU)
Pittsburgh Intl (KPIT)
10:30AM EDT 11:24AM EDT 0:54
20-Aug-2007
SBR1/L Monmouth Executive (KBLM)
Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
05:36PM EDT 06:16PM EDT 0:40
20-Aug-2007
SBR1/L Morristown Muni (KMMU)
Monmouth Executive (KBLM)
04:29PM EDT 04:39PM EDT 0:10
20-Aug-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Morristown Muni (KMMU)
03:46PM EDT 04:03PM EDT 0:17
20-Aug-2007
SBR1/L Monmouth Executive (KBLM)
Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
12:04PM EDT 12:36PM EDT 0:32
20-Aug-2007
SBR1/L Morristown Muni (KMMU)
Monmouth Executive (KBLM)
11:37AM EDT 11:49AM EDT 0:12
20-Aug-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Morristown Muni (KMMU)
09:59AM EDT 10:16AM EDT 0:17
19-Aug-2007
SBR1/L Manchester (KMHT)
Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
07:46PM EDT 08:36PM EDT 0:50
19-Aug-2007
SBR1/L Charleston Afb/Intl (KCHS)
Manchester (KMHT)
05:21PM EDT 07:20PM EDT 1:59
19-Aug-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Charleston Afb/Intl (KCHS)
02:42PM EDT 04:13PM EDT 1:31
17-Aug-2007
SBR1/L Charleston Afb/Intl (KCHS)
Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
01:44PM EDT 03:10PM EDT 1:26
17-Aug-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Charleston Afb/Intl (KCHS)
11:25AM EDT 12:48PM EDT 1:23
16-Aug-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Morristown Muni (KMMU)
05:04PM EDT result unknown (?)
n/a
16-Aug-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Manchester (KMHT)
05:04PM EDT Diverted
13-Aug-2007
N265/A Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Manchester (KMHT)
03:20PM EDT 03:33PM EDT 0:13
10-Aug-2007
SBR1/L Laurence G Hanscom Fld (KBED)
Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
02:00PM EDT 02:51PM EDT 0:51
10-Aug-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Laurence G Hanscom Fld (KBED)
12:24PM EDT 01:07PM EDT 0:43
09-Aug-2007
SBR1/L Rapid City Rgnl (KRAP)
Morristown Muni (KMMU)
09:44AM MDT 02:34PM EDT 2:50
06-Aug-2007
SBR1/L Buffalo Niagara Intl (KBUF)
Rapid City Rgnl (KRAP)
10:10AM EDT 11:04AM MDT 2:54
06-Aug-2007
SBR1/L Morristown Muni (KMMU)
Buffalo Niagara Intl (KBUF)
08:47AM EDT 09:37AM EDT 0:50
06-Aug-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Morristown Muni (KMMU)
07:50AM EDT 08:14AM EDT 0:24
02-Aug-2007
SBR1/L Republic (KFRG)
Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
12:43PM EDT 01:15PM EDT 0:32
02-Aug-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Republic (KFRG)
11:39AM EDT 12:14PM EDT 0:35
01-Aug-2007
SBR1/L Republic (KFRG)
Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
05:31PM EDT 06:07PM EDT 0:36
01-Aug-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Republic (KFRG)
04:41PM EDT 05:19PM EDT 0:38
28-Jul-2007
SBR1/L Morristown Muni (KMMU)
Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
01:07PM EDT 01:26PM EDT 0:19
28-Jul-2007
SBR1/L Cape May County (KWWD)
Morristown Muni (KMMU)
12:01PM EDT 12:37PM EDT 0:36
28-Jul-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Cape May County (KWWD)
10:03AM EDT 10:45AM EDT 0:42
23-Jul-2007
SBR1/L Capital City (KLAN)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Intl (KAVP)
04:04PM EDT 05:13PM EDT 1:09
23-Jul-2007
SBR1/L St Paul Downtown Holman Fld (KSTP)
Capital City (KLAN)
10:12AM CDT 12:14PM EDT 1:02
23-Jul-2007
SBR1/L St Paul Downtown Holman Fld (KSTP)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Intl (KAVP)
10:12AM CDT Diverted
23-Jul-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
St Paul Downtown Holman Fld (KSTP)
08:25AM EDT 09:27AM CDT 2:02
19-Jul-2007
SBR1/L Cape May County (KWWD)
Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
09:27AM EDT 09:58AM EDT 0:31
19-Jul-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Cape May County (KWWD)
08:46AM EDT 09:14AM EDT 0:28
18-Jul-2007
SBR1/L Monmouth Executive (KBLM)
Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
07:19PM EDT 07:45PM EDT 0:26
16-Jul-2007
SBR1/L Cincinnati Muni Airport Lunken Field (KLUK)
Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
04:46PM EDT 05:43PM EDT 0:57
16-Jul-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Cincinnati Muni Airport Lunken Field (KLUK)
03:13PM EDT 04:28PM EDT 1:15
14-Jul-2007
SBR1/L Newport News/Williamsburg Intl (KPHF)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Intl (KAVP)
03:37PM EDT 04:33PM EDT 0:56
14-Jul-2007
SBR1/L Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Intl (KAVP)
Newport News/Williamsburg Intl (KPHF)
11:35AM EDT 12:20PM EDT 0:45
14-Jul-2007
SBR1/L Waukegan Rgnl (KUGN)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Intl (KAVP)
08:49AM CDT 11:05AM EDT 1:16
14-Jul-2007
SBR1/L Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Intl (KAVP)
Waukegan Rgnl (KUGN)
07:34AM EDT 08:16AM CDT 1:42
02-Jul-2007
SBR1/L Columbus Muni (KBAK)
Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
11:46AM EDT 12:54PM EDT 1:08
02-Jul-2007
SBR1/L Morristown Muni (KMMU)
Columbus Muni (KBAK)
06:42AM EDT 09:08AM EDT 2:26
27-Jun-2007
SBR1/L Martin State (KMTN)
Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
07:31AM EDT 07:54AM EDT 0:23
27-Jun-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Martin State (KMTN)
06:43AM EDT 07:03AM EDT 0:20
26-Jun-2007
SBR1/L Pittsburgh Intl (KPIT)
Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
02:13PM EDT 02:42PM EDT 0:29
26-Jun-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Pittsburgh Intl (KPIT)
10:24AM EDT 10:58AM EDT 0:34
19-Jun-2007
SBR1/L Wilmington Intl (KILM)
Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
04:23PM EDT 05:32PM EDT 1:09
19-Jun-2007
SBR1/L Marsh Harbour (MYAM)
Wilmington Intl (KILM)
06:30PM GMT result unknown (?)
n/a
19-Jun-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Marsh Harbour (MYAM)
10:48AM EDT 04:53PM GMT 2:05
15-Jun-2007
SBR1/L Wilmington Intl (KILM)
Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
05:50PM EDT 06:55PM EDT 1:05
15-Jun-2007
SBR1/L Marsh Harbour (MYAM)
Wilmington Intl (KILM)
08:04PM GMT 05:11PM EDT 1:07
15-Jun-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Marsh Harbour (MYAM)
12:25PM EDT 07:14PM GMT 2:49
13-Jun-2007
N265/L Monmouth Executive (KBLM)
Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
03:55PM EDT 04:57PM EDT 1:02
13-Jun-2007
N265/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Morristown Muni (KMMU)
03:20PM EDT 03:45PM EDT 0:25
13-Jun-2007
SBR1/L Monmouth Executive (KBLM)
Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
09:57AM EDT 10:36AM EDT 0:39
13-Jun-2007
SBR1/L Pittsburgh Intl (KPIT)
Monmouth Executive (KBLM)
07:23AM EDT 08:29AM EDT 1:06
13-Jun-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Pittsburgh Intl (KPIT)
06:19AM EDT 06:56AM EDT 0:37
10-Jun-2007
SBR1/L Monmouth Executive (KBLM)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Intl (KAVP)
06:31PM EDT 07:02PM EDT 0:31
10-Jun-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Monmouth Executive (KBLM)
04:42PM EDT 05:14PM EDT 0:32
09-Jun-2007
SBR1/L Monmouth Executive (KBLM)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Intl (KAVP)
11:08AM EDT result unknown (?)
n/a
09-Jun-2007
SBR1/L Monmouth Executive (KBLM)
Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
11:08AM EDT Diverted
09-Jun-2007
SBR1/L Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Intl (KAVP)
Monmouth Executive (KBLM)
10:03AM EDT 10:27AM EDT 0:24
04-Jun-2007
SBR1/L Morristown Muni (KMMU)
Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
12:36PM EDT 01:02PM EDT 0:26
04-Jun-2007
SBR1/L New Castle (KILG)
Morristown Muni (KMMU)
11:30AM EDT 12:01PM EDT 0:31
04-Jun-2007
SBR1/L Allegheny County (KAGC)
New Castle (KILG)
10:05AM EDT 10:44AM EDT 0:39
04-Jun-2007
SBR1/L Buffalo Niagara Intl (KBUF)
Allegheny County (KAGC)
09:13AM EDT 09:46AM EDT 0:33
04-Jun-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Buffalo Niagara Intl (KBUF)
07:45AM EDT 08:17AM EDT 0:32
03-Jun-2007
SBR/L Buffalo Niagara Intl (KBUF)
Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
01:27PM EDT 01:57PM EDT 0:30
03-Jun-2007
SBR/L New Castle (KILG)
Buffalo Niagara Intl (KBUF)
12:18PM EDT 01:02PM EDT 0:44
23-May-2007
SBR1/L Wilmington Intl (KILM)
Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
07:20PM EDT 08:12PM EDT 0:52
23-May-2007
SBR1/L Nassau Int'l (MYNN)
Wilmington Intl (KILM)
09:21PM GMT 06:45PM EDT 1:24
23-May-2007
SBR1/A San Salvador (MYSM)
Nassau Int'l (MYNN)
08:05PM GMT 09:43PM GMT 1:38
23-May-2007
SBR1/G Nassau Int'l (MYNN)
San Salvador (MYSM)
07:21PM GMT 07:48PM GMT 0:27
23-May-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Nassau Int'l (MYNN)
12:13PM EDT 06:27PM GMT 2:14
21-May-2007
SBR1/L Wilmington Intl (KILM)
Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
03:57PM EDT 05:04PM EDT 1:07
21-May-2007
SBR1/G Nassau Int'l (MYNN)   <----------Bahamas
Wilmington Intl (KILM)
05:54PM GMT 03:20PM EDT 1:26
21-May-2007
SBR1/L Nassau Int'l (MYNN)
Wilmington Intl (KILM)
02:28PM GMT result unknown (?)
n/a
21-May-2007
SBR1/L Nassau Int'l (MYNN)
San Salvador (MYSM)
02:28PM GMT Diverted
20-May-2007
SBR1/L San Salvador (MYSM)
Nassau Int'l (MYNN)
11:05PM GMT 12:13AM GMT (+1) 1:08
20-May-2007
SBR1/L Marsh Harbour (MYAM)
Wilmington Intl (KILM)
10:28PM GMT 06:32PM EDT 0:04
20-May-2007
SBR1/L Morristown Muni (KMMU)
Marsh Harbour (MYAM)
02:31PM EDT 09:35PM GMT 3:04
16-May-2007
SBR1/L Allegheny County (KAGC)
Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
08:56PM EDT 08:59PM EDT 0:03
16-May-2007
SBR1/L Washington Dulles Intl (KIAD)
Allegheny County (KAGC)
07:59PM EDT 08:36PM EDT 0:37
16-May-2007
SBR1/L Washington Dulles Intl (KIAD)
Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
07:59PM EDT Diverted
16-May-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Washington Dulles Intl (KIAD)
05:38PM EDT 06:08PM EDT 0:30
16-May-2007
SBR1/F Washington Dulles Intl (KIAD)
Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
11:48AM EDT 12:16PM EDT 0:28
16-May-2007
SBR1/L Morristown Muni (KMMU)
Washington Dulles Intl (KIAD)
10:32AM EDT 11:13AM EDT 0:41
11-May-2007
SBR1/L Atlantic City Intl (KACY)
Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
05:33PM EDT 06:03PM EDT 0:30
11-May-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Atlantic City Intl (KACY)
04:42PM EDT 07:00PM EDT 2:18
10-May-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Northeast Philadelphia (KPNE)
01:56PM EDT 02:22PM EDT 0:26
18-Apr-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Northeast Philadelphia (KPNE)
11:46AM EDT 12:09PM EDT 0:23
14-Apr-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Greater Binghamton/Edwin A Link Field (KBGM)
08:56AM EDT 08:55AM EDT n/a
10-Apr-2007
SBR1/L Orlando Intl (KMCO)
Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
01:51PM EDT result unknown (?)
n/a
10-Apr-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Orlando Intl (KMCO)
09:50AM EDT 12:15PM EDT 2:25
09-Apr-2007
SBR1/L Daytona Beach Intl (KDAB)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Intl (KAVP)
02:53PM EDT 04:48PM EDT 1:55
09-Apr-2007
SBR1/L Reina Beatrix Int'l (TNCA)
Daytona Beach Intl (KDAB)
03:24PM GMT 02:23PM EDT 2:59
09-Apr-2007
SBR1/G Fort Lauderdale Executive (KFXE)
Reina Beatrix Int'l (TNCA)      <----------------------Aruba
07:22AM EDT result unknown (?)
n/a
01-Apr-2007
SBR1/I Reina Beatrix Int'l (TNCA)
Fort Lauderdale Executive (KFXE)
08:44PM GMT 06:45PM EDT 2:01
01-Apr-2007
SBR1/G Daytona Beach Intl (KDAB)
Reina Beatrix Int'l (TNCA)
11:19AM EDT result unknown (?)
n/a
01-Apr-2007
SBR1/L Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Intl (KAVP)
Daytona Beach Intl (KDAB)
08:31AM EDT 10:39AM EDT 2:08
25-Mar-2007
SBR1/L Lambert-St Louis Intl (KSTL)
Morristown Muni (KMMU)
07:42PM CDT 10:37PM EDT 1:55
25-Mar-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Lambert-St Louis Intl (KSTL)
06:21PM EDT 07:14PM CDT 1:53
25-Mar-2007
SBR1/L Mc Carran Intl (KLAS)     <-----------Las Vegas
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Intl (KAVP)
10:07AM PDT 05:20PM EDT 4:13
23-Mar-2007
SBR1/L Lambert-St Louis Intl (KSTL)   <---------Final Four
Mc Carran Intl (KLAS)
01:12PM CDT 02:28PM PDT 3:16
23-Mar-2007
SBR1/L Morristown Muni (KMMU)
Lambert-St Louis Intl (KSTL)     <-----------Final Four
10:48AM EDT 12:10PM CDT 2:22
23-Mar-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Morristown Muni (KMMU)
09:52AM EDT 10:17AM EDT 0:25
22-Mar-2007
SBR1/L Mc Carran Intl (KLAS)
Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
09:54AM PDT 04:48PM EDT 3:54
21-Mar-2007
SBR1/L Garden City Rgnl (KGCK)
Mc Carran Intl (KLAS)
11:32AM CDT 11:37AM PDT 2:05
21-Mar-2007
SBR1/L Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Intl (KAVP)
Garden City Rgnl (KGCK)
09:03AM EDT 11:06AM CDT 3:03
14-Mar-2007
SBR1/L Allegheny County (KAGC)
Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
06:45PM EDT 07:14PM EDT 0:29
14-Mar-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Allegheny County (KAGC)
05:56PM EDT 06:37PM EDT 0:41
09-Mar-2007
SBR1/F Wilmington Intl (KILM)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Intl (KAVP)
01:49PM EST 02:36PM EST 0:47
09-Mar-2007
SBR1/Q Princess Juliana Int'l (TNCM)
Wilmington Intl (KILM)
02:41PM GMT 01:08PM EST 3:27
06-Mar-2007
SBR1/W Wilmington Intl (KILM)
Princess Juliana Int'l (TNCM)
09:08AM EST 05:10PM GMT 3:02
06-Mar-2007
SBR1/L Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Intl (KAVP)
Wilmington Intl (KILM)
07:19AM EST 08:24AM EST 1:05
06-Mar-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Intl (KAVP)
06:29AM EST 06:36AM EST 0:07
02-Mar-2007
SBR1/L Pittsburgh Intl (KPIT)
Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
05:49PM EST result unknown (?)
n/a
02-Mar-2007
SBR1/L Pittsburgh Intl (KPIT)
Morristown Muni (KMMU)
05:49PM EST Diverted
02-Mar-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Muni (KHZL)
Pittsburgh Intl (KPIT)
04:50PM EST 05:31PM EST 0:41
28-Feb-2007
SBR1/L Hartsfield - Jackson Atlanta Intl (KATL)
Allegheny County (KAGC)
04:19PM EST 05:36PM EST 1:17
28-Feb-2007
SBR1/L Morristown Municipal (KMMU)
Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta Int'l (KATL)
08:39AM EST 10:34AM EST 1:55
28-Feb-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Municipal (KHZL)
Morristown Municipal (KMMU)
07:50AM EST 08:12AM EST 0:22
07-Feb-2007
SBR1/L Wiley Post (KPWA)
Hazleton Municipal (KHZL)
06:05PM CST 09:17PM EST 2:12
07-Feb-2007
SBR1/L Austin Bergstrom Int'l (KAUS)
Wiley Post (KPWA)
04:19PM CST 05:21PM CST 1:02
06-Feb-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Municipal (KHZL)
Austin Bergstrom Int'l (KAUS)
05:30PM EST 08:03PM CST 3:33
02-Feb-2007
SBR1/L Capital City (KCXY)    <---------Harrisburg
Hazleton Municipal (KHZL)
10:34AM EST 10:48AM EST 0:14
02-Feb-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Municipal (KHZL)
Capital City (KCXY)                 <----------Harriburg
08:35AM EST 08:56AM EST 0:21
31-Jan-2007
SBR1/L Capital City (KCXY)   <------Harrisburg
Allegheny Co (KAGC)
04:15PM EST 05:10PM EST 0:55
26-Jan-2007
SBR1/L Allegheny Co (KAGC)
Hazleton Municipal (KHZL)
01:59PM EST 02:29PM EST 0:30
26-Jan-2007
SBR1/L Hazleton Municipal (KHZL)
Allegheny Co (KAGC)
12:43PM EST 01:26PM EST 0:43

If you are still with this article there is more. As part of the House Democratic Caucus Mr. Eachus and Company hired the law firm of Sprague and Sprague, the same firm that represented admitted felon Robert Powell in 2008. He not only hired Richard Sprague but also sat in audience with him as Sprague "educated" him on the casino industry.

Sprague said his own outreach to legislators was limited to personal visits in 2008 with eight senators and representatives, including House Majority Leader Todd Eachus (D., Luzerne) and Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R., Delaware).

"When I went to each of them," Sprague said, "my opening statement was 'I am here, and I don't want you to do a thing for me. . . . I'm here to introduce myself.' "

You may also recall the connection between Sprague, Powell, and other judges in the Luzerne County courthouse who testified against former Judge Ann Lokuta.

Betty Roccograndi of the Times Leader wrote December 7,2008 The links between Sprague, Powell, Conahan and other Powell pals who testified against Lokuta is disturbing, and any fair-minded person has to wonder whether Sprague’s objectivity was clouded even a little bit.

The Citizen's Voice printed this observation in May, 2010.

Richard A. Sprague, a prominent Philadelphia case, remained on the case despite representing former Drums attorney Robert J. Powell, who has pleaded guilty to paying kickbacks to two former Luzerne County judges.

That relationship has compromised Sprague's ability to conduct a fair and impartial hearing, Lokuta's attorneys, George A. Michak and Ronald V. Santora, said in an appeal filed today with the state Supreme Court.

The depth of the connections continue. Mark Sheppard, formerly of Sprauge and Sprague representing Robert Powell on former Judge Michael Toole.

When asked if Toole had taken a payoff from Powell, one of Powell's attorneys, Mark B. Sheppard, formerly of Sprague & Sprague and now a partner at Montgomery McCracken Walker & Rhoads, said he could not comment.

"It would be inappropriate for our client or I to comment at this time, except to say that Mr. Powell continues to cooperate fully with any investigation," Sheppard said.

Sheppard, along with other attorneys from Sprague & Sprague, had previously authored a letter released to the media in February disputing the notion that the money Powell paid to Conahan and Ciavarella amounted to kickbacks, and instead said that Powell was the victim of a judicial shakedown.

"First, it is grossly inaccurate to suggest that our client ever sought or had any influence in the sentencing of any juvenile offender. In fact, Bob Powell never offered to pay a single penny to these former judges. Instead, Bob Powell was a victim of their demands for payment," the letter said.

Got off the beaten path so back to the casino business.  Look how Eachus helped one particular casino.  Although Foxwoods is not part of the association where Sprague is involved this story may point to the reason tavern owners are having such a hard time getting small games of chance legislation passed in Harrisburg that would help save their industry and jobs.

How Foxwoods got a leg up

Time was not on the casino's side. Access to heavy hitters was.
By Jennifer Lin, Mario F. Cattabiani, and Amy Worden

Inquirer Staff Writers

Autumn was make-or-break time for the Foxwoods Casino in Philadelphia.

Opposition in neighborhoods and City Hall had stalled the project. Lenders had grown wary as casinos elsewhere struggled. State regulators set a final deadline: Foxwoods had to open by May 2011, or lose its license.

Foxwoods needed help in Harrisburg.

So its lawyer and lobbyist, Stephen A. Cozen, turned to an old friend whose campaigns he had generously supported: Gov. Rendell.

Then Cozen called on legislative leaders - Democrats Todd Eachus and Dwight Evans in the House, Republican Dominic Pileggi in the Senate. It was as if someone had drawn Cozen a map. Indeed, someone had.

"I advised him to talk to everyone in leadership, on both sides of the aisle," Rendell remembered.

By December, a 42-word sentence appeared on Page 55 of the 230-page bill to legalize poker and other table games at Pennsylvania casinos.

It said the state Gaming Control Board could extend a casino's license for "36 months . . . or December 31, 2012."

Those words spelled hope for Foxwoods' future.

Cozen said Gerber had suggested he talk to the House majority leader, Eachus (D., Luzerne). Later, Gerber began checking in with negotiators about the Foxwoods extension - not to lobby, Gerber said, but just to get progress reports.

An anxious Cozen phoned the House majority leader.

Eachus said Cozen had voiced concern about rising resistance from local lawmakers. (In a recent interview, Eachus defended the bill, saying casinos unbuilt meant state revenue uncollected. "It's a balance-sheet issue.")

He assured Cozen the Foxwoods language would stay..

I will end this post by returning to the open ended contract let out by the House Democratic Caucus to Sprague and Sprague in the amount not to exceed $100,000.00. It commenced on November 03, 2008 with no end date. The HDC was to inform the firm when it no longer needed its services.

Guess it didn't pass the smell test did it?

Eachus Playing Knight In Shining Armour Over Juveniles

The dog and pony show Representative Todd Eachus is playing over the juvenile justice mess in Luzerne County is approaching the nauseating level. In today's Standard Speaker, his personal PR publication, Robert Swift writes about his latest attempt to placate the public by introducing two bills in the House aimed at juvenile justice reform.

Two initial bills to put the recommendations of the state commission investigating the Luzerne County courthouse scandal into effect were introduced Wednesday by House Majority Leader Todd Eachus.

One bill would create a $500,000 state fund to provide restitution payments to Luzerne County residents who didn't receive any court-ordered restitution because of state Supreme Court orders vacating convictions of juvenile offenders sentenced wrongly by two former judges to a privately run juvenile detention facility. When the convictions were vacated, the restitution awards were vacated, too.

The restitution measure by Eachus, D-116, Hazleton, provides for a court-appointed master to develop a system to determine the amount of restitution owed to a victim and distribute the funds accordingly.

"Because the Supreme Court vacated the rulings in Luzerne County related to the 'kids for cash' corruption scandal, many of the victims of those juvenile crimes have been deprived restitution for damages," Eachus said. "We must ensure that the victims of juvenile crime receive justice."

A second bill would expand the jurisdiction of the state Office of Victim Advocate to include victims of juvenile crime. This office was created in the 1990s so the interests of victims of crimes committed by adult offenders would be represented in court proceedings.

According to a savy lawyer you cannot have restitution in dismissed cases. If you read this website it appears that restitution must be tied to a conviction. This case appears to support that statement. There are victim advocates already assigned to the juvenile victims so it is hard to see the need to create state advocacy.

So the Knight in Shining Armour has once again created an issue so he appears to have solved it. Mr. Eachus has been asked repeatedly to explain his true relationship with Robert Powell, admitted felon, with respect to his efforts to secure funding for his proposed cargo airport. There has been no meaningful response.



In an interview on SamSon TV-13 with Kristen Buczynski Todd Eachus made these remarks about the juvenile scandal.

"Well in Luzerne County we have a particular place in this scandal, don't we? Our courthouse has been an embarrassment. We have juveniles in our county that have been wronged by the justice system. That needed to be righted.

In April, 2009 Senator Lisa Baker was attacking juvenile justice reform in Pennsylvania according to this release from Models for Change. Senate Bill 949 of 2009 was introduced by Senator Lisa Baker from Luzerne County on June 9, 2009. Sponsors: BAKER, PILEGGI, WASHINGTON, ERICKSON, GORDNER, ALLOWAY, MUSTO, KITCHEN, FERLO, O'PAKE, FONTANA, FARNESE, WARD, EARLL, BROWNE and ARGALL

Eachus introduced his bill on June 10, 2009 according to the state's legislative website. He was a day late and a dollar short.

Interbranch Commission on Juvenile Justice Recommendations

Rarely do I post an entire article but I believe theTimes Leader won't mind the trackback to its article and the importance needed to get the message out.

Mark Guydish
HARRISBURG – Call it the state’s “Justice To-Do List.”

The Interbranch Commission on Juvenile Justice’s report is more than 60 pages, but the commission included a summary of recommendations.

Here’s the list, simplified:

•Create a statewide Juvenile Justice Victim Advocate Office.

•Restore the Victims of Juvenile Offenders program funding to 2005 levels.

•Create a Luzerne County Victims of Juvenile Crime Restitution Fund.

•Re-examine the Code of Judicial Conduct’s ethics and reporting provisions.

•Revise Judicial Conduct Board Internal Operating Procedures.

•Review the role and independence of the JCB staff in relation to the JCB members.

•Revise JCB annual reports.

•Revise the JCB website.

•Ensure judges and lawyers are aware of ethical responsibility to report misconduct.

•Review the state Constitution to ensure the JCB is accountable.

•Create educational programs to ensure lawyers and the public understand what constitutes attorney misconduct.

•Revise the attorney disciplinary board website.

•Increase attorney continuing legal education ethics requirements.

•The commission endorsed training standards adopted by state associations for district attorneys and juvenile defenders; the groups should develop continuing legal education courses for prosecutors and defense counsel.

•Continuing legal education should be mandatory for juvenile court judges.

•Emphasis should be placed on the importance of work in juvenile justice.

•The proposed standards for prosecutors in juvenile court should be implemented and resources to achieve them funded.

•Create a state funding stream for defense of indigent juveniles.

•Create a Center for Juvenile Defense Excellence.

•Ensure access to counsel by all indigent juveniles, restrict the right to waive counsel and require stand-by counsel for those who do waive the right but decide they have legal questions.

•The Chief Juvenile Probation Officers Association and all county probation departments should adopt standards of conduct and rules prohibiting partisan political activities by employees.

•The Court Administrator of Pennsylvania should conduct a national review to determine best practices for hiring policies.

•Continue State Supreme Court oversight of the Luzerne County juvenile justice system.

•Ensure adequate resources for the Juvenile Court Judges Commission to collect and analyze data.

•Enhance data collection and sharing among relevant agencies regarding the juvenile justice system.

•Require judges to state on the record how a juvenile disposition furthers the goals of state law.

•Study ways to reduce or eliminate shackling in juvenile courtrooms.

•Implement the Juvenile Detention Alternative Initiative model.

•Modify the standards governing the use of secure detention.

•Expand as a pilot program the Youth Level of Service/Case Management Inventory risks/needs instrument and employment of valid research and other evidence based risk assessment.

•Create a form advising juveniles of appeal rights.

•Develop Internet-based resources explaining how the appeals process works and how to get assistance.

•Expedite appeal reviews.

•Create a statewide office to assist in juvenile appeals.

•Enhance the allowance of nunc pro tunc (now for then) relief.

•Encourage county commissioners to attend the Academy for Excellence in County Government.

•Enhance understanding of roles and obligations of county court and executive officials.

•Discontinue zero-tolerance school policies.

•Enhance understanding of roles, obligations and cooperation among educational, law-enforcement and juvenile justice stakeholders.

•Keep the juvenile justice status of students confidential.

•Review educational curriculum for children in placement.


Mark Guydish, a Times Leader staff writer, can be reached at 829-7161

Interbranch Commission on Juvenile Justice Report

Report: Judges, lawyers failed juveniles
By Dave Janoski and Michael P. Buffer (Staff Writers)
Published: May 28, 2010

In testimony before the commission, current District Attorney Jackie Musto Carroll and her predecessor, David W. Lupas, who is now a county judge presiding over juvenile matters, "incredibly conceded that they had never set foot in a juvenile court throughout their entire careers," the report said. Lupas and Musto Carroll "demonstrated no initiative, interest, or concern with what was occurring in juvenile court."

Long-time county Public Defender Basil Russin, who resigned earlier this year in a pay dispute with the county commissioners, failed to properly supervise the assistant public defenders who appeared before Ciavarella, the report said.

It took over a year and four months plus thousands of dollars for this panel to reach the same conclusion SOP did back in January, 2009.

Judge Lupas- Lets Ask You Questions

DA Jackie Musto Carroll- Lets Ask You A Question

The report did note that Russin and Musto Carroll initiated reforms in their offices once the scandal came to light and that Lupas, as a juvenile court judge, has made sure juveniles have representation and full hearings. Lupas has reported that detentions are down 70 percent since he took over the court. Nothing like letting the horse out of the barn then fixing the gate.

Click here to read the report

In a credit to Senator Lisa Baker's efforts on this juvenile mess she was quoted on the following statements.

State Sen. Lisa Baker, R-Lehman Township, said in a press release issued Thursday that she will introduce bills to begin debate on the recommendations that require legislation.


"This report is a clear call to action," Baker said. "None of this can be treated casually, in the sense of 'it might be nice to do something someday if we have time or find money or the spirit still moves us.

Ann Lokuta Gets Help From The Interbranch Commission on Juvenile Justice

Ann Lokuta Times Leader photo

Back in August 2009 SOP opined about former Judge Ann Lokuta's attempts to get back on the bench. In September there was news that the Judicial Conduct Board received complaints in the Luzerne County courthouse scandal.

After a hearing before the Interbranch Commission on Juvenile Justice today the Times Leader is reporting out of Harrisburg that attorneys for Lokuta accused an attorney for the Judicial Conduct Board of engaging in prosecutorial misconduct for failing to reveal to a disciplinary court that it had received a complaint against former judge Michael Conahan, who was a key witness against Lokuta.

The article goes on to describe the specifics that Attorney George Michak makes about the actions that JCB's chief counsel, Joseph Massa described to support his position.

Even if Lokuta is successful in this endeavor and she is restored to the bench, a longshot, she would still face retention next fall. The bigger prize for her here is restoration of her pension. This one definitely needs to play out.

MaryAnn Petrilla- Stick To County Business

Times Leader Photo

It looks like the "good-ole-boy" network just grew by one of the opposite sex. In today's edition of the Hazleton Standard Speaker Luzerne County Commissioner Maryann Petrilla states she wrote a letter to the Department of Environmental Protection over Hazleton Creek Properties application to mix pulverized construction fill and debris with dredge at its mine reclamation site in Hazleton. Her letter mirrors EXACTLY the objections raised by Todd Eachus and Paul Kanjorski. One would think that they would at least be original in their letters to DEP rather than copy Todd Eachus's "homework".

MaryAnn Petrilla is the same person who had Todd Eachus manage her campaign for County Controller when she ran against Steve Flood and lost. She was elected Luzerne County Controller in 2006. She has yet to explain her possible complicity in the Kids-For-Cash scheme through malfeasance acts while in office. She reminds me of a Nandu in Uraguay.

“This is the same former Democrat controller who failed to raise any red flags regarding the web of corruption that has surrounded the Luzerne County government.

“It was, after all, under Maryanne Petrilla’s watch, that debit cards were being misused and no-bid contracts were being handed out as political favors. Frankly, her inability to report these glaring problems with our county government while serving as an elected official makes her incompetent at best.”

Todd Eachus, the leading opponent, claims the project will create a combination of materials that has never been used before in mine reclamation in the United States . Of course once again the Mr. Eachus is following is cohort, Paul Kanjorski, and stretching the facts. Out in Chicago there is an innovative project using clean construction demolition debris(CCDD).

Maryann claims she was "threatened" by Judge Conahan in her testimony to the Interbranch Commission on Juvenile Justice. Well, Maryann, were you pressured when he gave you a $5,000.00 donation on December 24, 2003? During your testimony did you let the Commission know about the donation?

Maryann, where you under the same pressure by Todd Eachus to send this letter to DEP??

Judge Muroski Testimony Before Interbranch Commission on Juvenile Justice

Times Leader Photo

In reading the testimony of Judge Muroski I found one part particularly curious.

Since the indictments were announced there has been considerable media and public criticism about "why didn't the Judges do anything- they had to know." He goes on to desceribe some mechanisms that may support the reason Judges were kept in the dark. But this line is not as clear.

Prior to that I had never received a letter or any other notice of the systemic deprivation of counsel. I do not recall any news coverage regarding these issues, except for the 2004 incident regarding placement.

It is a shame that this particular story didn't receive the attention it deserved. The heartbreak of Richard and Gloria Habel over their daughter, Elizabeth, with the Luzerne County juvenile court system is compelling enough to keep it in the forefront.

A family’s nightmare
Plymouth girl, her parents upset with treatment she’s received in her nine months in state custody.
By JOHN DAVIDSON

Times Leader

October 29, 2006

PLYMOUTH – Richard and Gloria Habel pulled into the West Side Vo-Tech High School parking lot one morning in mid-February to a flashing array of emergency vehicles. Their daughter Elizabeth, then 14, was handcuffed in the back of a police cruiser, drunk, and crying, “James O’Brien raped me.”

Police said Elizabeth came to school that morning highly intoxicated with two friends. One of those friends was in the back seat of another cruiser; the other was in an ambulance, being rushed to the hospital to get her stomach pumped.

Authorities locked up Elizabeth in juvenile detention that day, and aside from a brief visit in September, she hasn’t been home since. Elizabeth was on probation that February morning for a simple assault charge in the spring of 2005. Showing up at school intoxicated was a violation of the probation conditions.

Four days after her arrest, Elizabeth provided authorities with a detailed – at times graphic – written account of the alleged sexual assault by O’Brien. A month later, police arrested James F. O’Brien, 26, at his Plymouth apartment on charges of statutory sexual assault, corruption of minors and furnishing alcohol to minors. He is currently awaiting trial.

O’Brien previously served time in prison after he was charged as a juvenile in 1997 with involuntary deviate sexual intercourse. He said in a 2001 interview that the charges were related to sexual abuse of his 5-year-old nephew.

To date, Elizabeth has been locked up longer than O’Brien.

Elizabeth’s story

After the drinking incident at school, Elizabeth was sent to juvenile detention for several months while she awaited a hearing before Luzerne County Judge Mark Ciavarella. While confined to Dorm A, Room 2 of the Luzerne County Juvenile Center in Pittston, she wrote a detailed affidavit explaining how she met O’Brien one afternoon while walking across the Carey Avenue Bridge with some girlfriends – and how, a few weeks later, he lured her to his apartment, where he allegedly plied her and her friends with alcohol before assaulting Elizabeth.

But the affidavit was for the district attorney’s office and their case against O’Brien; it had nothing to do with the adjudication of Elizabeth’s case.

After nearly two months in juvenile detention, Elizabeth went before Ciavarella and was sentenced to a program called Vision Quest, some 400 miles away from home in Franklin County. Richard and Gloria say they were never notified of the hearing or the sentencing.

“They told me I was going away and I said, ‘what about my family?’ Because every other time they called and told my parents,” Elizabeth said in an interview at Bridgeview in Wilkes-Barre, where she was transferred this summer. “I had to go to that hearing by myself. And they don’t explain anything; they tell you where you’re going and you’re gone.”

In the nine months since Ciavarella sentenced Elizabeth, the Habels have watched helplessly as judges, state psychologists and probation officers have shuffled her among juvenile detention centers, residential treatment facilities and psychiatric hospitals.

Elizabeth has been interned in at least four different facilities since February, including a brief stay at The Meadows Psychiatric Center in Centre Hall, where she was sent after “failing to adjust” to her program at Vision Quest.

At Vision Quest, Elizabeth said, she received no therapy or counseling related to the alleged sexual assault. The staff “screamed in your face,” she said, describing the facility as more of a military-style boot camp than a treatment center.

In lieu of counseling, Elizabeth was given powerful prescription drugs, including Zoloft and Prozac. Not only were the Habels never consulted about the medications, they weren’t notified when staff doctors decided to change them.

“When we saw her the first time, she was real agitated, she couldn’t sit still and she told us the drugs they were giving her were making her angry and depressed,” Gloria said. “I did some research on my own and I couldn’t believe they would give her these things without consulting us.”

“This is what I don’t understand – how she can be sent to this place and put on these psychotropic drugs and we have no say in the matter,” Richard said. “She’s our daughter, someone should’ve asked us.”

Drug treatments aside, Richard and Gloria weren’t prepared for what they saw at the Vision Quest facility after driving there to visit Elizabeth for the first time last spring.

The first sign that something was wrong: TV news vans were lined up outside the facility.

The day before, the Habels later learned, there had been a riot. About 30 girls attacked staff members with rock-filled socks; some escaped into the woods during the fracas and were later caught.

“There were about a dozen state police cruisers there that morning,” Richard Habel said. “This was where the judge sent my daughter.”

“Harder than it had to be”

The Habels now hope for a judicial decision that, to them, would seem like a miracle. Elizabeth is scheduled to go before Ciavarella on Tuesday, and there is a chance she could finally be allowed to return home.

The ordeal has shaken the Habels as a family, and ultimately brought them closer. But, they say, any good that has come from their daughter’s nine months away from home has been despite her placement, not because of it.

“Liz is closer to us than ever before, and she’s very respectful and loving towards us and her sister,” Gloria said. “But it didn’t have to be like this. We shouldn’t – no parent should – have to go through what we’ve been through.”

For her part, Elizabeth is resilient and speaks clearly and confidently about what’s happened to her.

“I’ve learned so much through all this, but they made it so much harder than it had to be,” she said. “I just wish someone would have listened to me and respected me enough to understand what was really going on.”

John Davidson, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 829-7210.

Your honor, respectively, that story is from 2006.

Eachus Testimony To Interbranch Commission on Juvenile Justice

Sometimes it doesn't take words to tell the story a picture can answer all the questions.

From Terri Morgan-Beceker's story that appeared in the Times Leader. Here are the words of Todd Eachus during his testimony asking HOW?

It is heartbreaking to know that my county is now nationally known for a public corruption scandal that used thousands of children as pawns in a judicial kickback scheme.


This “kids for cash” scandal, as it has come to be known, has devastated the lives of these young victims, and left our entire community wondering how this could have happened.
Yes, we want to know WHY these two judges misused their power and abused the system for their own gain.


Yes, we want to know WHY thousands of juvenile defendants were denied their constitutional right to counsel.


And Yes, we want to know WHY so many children were sent to a juvenile detention center for what, in many cases, were minor offenses.


The WHY is important.


But it is also important that we ask HOW.


HOW were these two rogue judges able to manipulate the system for their own selfish ends?


HOW were they able, for so long, to deny the basic constitutional rights for so many juvenile defendants?


HOW did no one know these abuses were occurring?


In short, HOW could this have happened?

Todd, how are you standing next to one of the participants and didn't know HOW?