elmtelligence

With all of the different thoughts about who killed Bryan Kocis and speculation that he was killed to keep him from testifying against the judge who changed his charges after the fact it really makes you wonder if Bryan had something on Judge Conahan that helped him avoid jail time. Now early on in this investigation someone suggested that Bryan was killed by a hit man. I will admit that I thought that to be the case. What is really interesting is that the more that is discovered about this case the more I think of it as a possibility. There were always just to many things with this case that did not fit.

I know that it is claimed that Joe and Harlow killed Bryan because he was an impediment to them working with SeanLockhart/Brent Corrigan. But what is interesting is that the more I look at what has transpired in this case more I think that Joe and Harlow could have been framed. mind you I do understand all of the evidence that is being presented against Joe and Harlow. I have seen enough of the evidence to understand the belief of those who think that they did this. But you have to understand that you have only seen the prosecutions side of the case. I really have no clue what the defense will provide as evidence. The one thing good about our justice system is you don’t have to disprove the prosecutions case you just have to introduce doubt.

First of all Joe and Harlow were under investigation in Virginia Beach for a Rico case with regards to their escort business. The search of their house in February was based on the Rico charges and had nothing to do with the murder of Bryan Kocis. The Pennsylvania police went on a ride along on that search because Harlow was a “person of interest”. What is also interesting is that the affidavit for that search warrant is still sealed and the people who have tried to get a look at it have found it is resealed every time it comes up to be viewed by the public. I wonder why that is? Could it be that what was seized in that search was seized illegally?

You also have the recently indicted Judge Michael Conahan who is same judge who was accused of illegal campaign practices by Judge Musto during their heated campaign. Judge Musto alleges that Conahan received $180,000.00 in campaign donations illegally. Conahan said that he loaned it to his campaign by taking a second mortgage on his home but no records existed of any such transaction in county records. Federal agents conducting a probe on the financial dealings of Judge Conahan, and his wife are also examining the county court records as well .

When Judge Conahan was a magisterial district judge he was involved in a cocaine trafficking case. Judge Conahan’s name surfaced during Mr. Belletiere’s 1991 federal trial in the “Empire” drug case involving Hazleton drug trafficking in the 1980s. Federal witness Neal DeAngelo testified Judge Conahan called him in 1986 and said he had heard Mr. DeAngelo’s brother, Paul, had been buying cocaine from a dealer who was under investigation. Judge Conahan offered to put the DeAngelos in contact with a Florida dealer, Mr. DeAngelo testified. Mr. Belletiere, who is a former Hazleton resident, subsequently called Mr. DeAngelo at Judge Conahan’s request.

According to testimony, and the DeAngelo brothers and another man traveled to Miami to buy $26,500 worth of cocaine from Mr. Belletiere. While Judge Conahan was on the prosecution’s list of witnesses for the Belletiere trial he was not called to testify. The federal prosecutor in the case, during a “sidebar” conversation with the judge out of the jury’s earshot, called Judge Conahan an “unindicted co-conspirator” in the case, according to a court transcript.

Four years ago Judge Conahan’s wife, Barbara, formed a Pompano Beach used-car business, according to an official with the company who said Monday that he met with Judge Conahan, the judge’s wife and Mr. Belletiere (the former dealer from Florida) to discuss setting up the business in 2004. Barbara Conahan was president of the used-car business, RAB Auto Sales Inc., according to Florida corporate documents. The former drug dealer, Ronald Belletiere, operated RAB, according to the company’s former secretary/treasurer. Florida documents indicate the company has been inactive since September 2007.

Judge Conahan “retired” shortly before the arrest of Joe and Harlow with 6 years left on his ten-year term. Yet no one wants to believe that this man is capable of setting up a hit on a man who could get him thrown in prison on a mandatory 3rd degree felony where he could serve up to 15 years in prison. Now I have read various sentiments with regards to Conahan and Ciavarella and how could they do what they did and not get busted sooner. Someone in the DA’s office had to know what was going on. Could that person be Judge Peter Lupas the former Luzrene County DA? When you look at all that has transpired with regards to this case the whole conspiracy to frame Joe and Harlow does not really seem so far fetched.

It was claimed that it would be too hard to cover up a hit and to frame two guys for murder. The interesting thing is that there were several times that this case could have come to a horrible end for those accused. There was the early morning search of the home of Joe and Harlow. The police used concussion grenades and the swat team to raid the home. The fact is someone could have easily been killed. There is also the travesty that has been the case so far. With the musical chair game with the attorneys for the accused. The mad rush to trial by the Luzerne County courts. Judge Ciavarella stepping in to deny the accused legal representatation by denying them conflict council.

David Lupas was the DA when Bryan was convicted and he was also the DA when Joe and Harlow were arrested. He became a Judge at the beginning of this year. He is also the judge that was picked by Ciavarella to oversee the juvenile court system. He was also the DA when Joe and Harlow’s house was searched. He was overseeing this case from the start. It kind of makes you wonder what was going on in Luzerne County.

Judge Conahan is/was on the board of First National Community Bank — where billionaire casino owner Louis A. DeNaples was chairman of the board until his recent indictment on perjury charges with regards to a casino and organized crime. He is also in the business of landfill and used auto parts and real estate. DeNaples is one of the principal shareholders in this bank with his brother and his son. Now we have this connection for Conahan. Are you starting to get the picture now?

Then you have Judge Conahan and Ciavarella who were good friends with a Mr. Powell who wanted to build a new juvenile detention center. Powell and his partner built this center and gave the judges kick backs for all of inmates that were sent there. That is another huge travesty in Luzerne County. Mr. Powell then sold his interest in the youth centers to a Greg Zappola who I might add is not the most above board person I have read about. You have the builder and the lawyer and the judge all involved in a nice little scam against the public. And now Ciavarella is saying that he did not defraud the taxpayers. And guess who his attorney is, If you said Al Flora you would be correct.

The same attorney who with Conahan and Lupus got the charges reduced for one Bryan Kocis,
the victim of a murder that is being tried in Lucerne County in the very same court house where these dishonored judges used to preside. Does anyone else see something wrong with this picture? Now I can understand that from the point of view of the court system of Luzerne County they would want to keep this case in house. But in the name of justice I think it should be moved to a Federal Court. Luzerne had too much to loose to let this case get away from their control and now their worst nightmare has been realized.

What is funny is that the FBI was investigating the victim and the court system was also being investigated. Either way Conahan was going down but I guess it is better to go down for embezzlement than for consorting with a known child molester and allowing him to remain free to molest again. If you have to be tainted than just be a crook and not a pervert. But the one problem is that there are too many loose ends floating around out there that could continue to cause problems for his dishonor Judge Conahan.

It makes you wonder why the child detention centers? I wonder if Robert Powell has something to do with Kocis. Why would Conahan review all of the video that was confiscated during Bryan’s trail and then return it all and the equipment except the one video that should have convicted him. Why would he allow him to continue to produce pornography in a state where he took an oath to uphold the law and allow Bryan to continue to break it? Why did the prosecutor not protest this travesty of justice? Was he told that it would help him get on the bench if he ignored it?

It seems that Bryan Kocis was a big thorn in the side of Judge Conahan. He we was too high profile and he was drawing to much attention to Luzerne County. The slap on the hand that he received after raping that 15-year-old boy was drawing focus on the court system. The bogus court case with regards to Sean Lockhart, the civil case in federal court in San Diego, the back door deal with Lee Bergeron, the online fighting with Sean and Grant, Sean’s blog which was telling the world that Bryan was a pervert. The fact that Sean was underage when he filmed for Cobra Video. All of those reasons could have brought this little dirty court system down to its knees.

So Bryan Kocis had to be destroyed to protect the “integrity” of the court system.
There is a nasty taint on anyone who has ever had anything to do with Bryan Kocis. The fact that killing him did not remove it is quite telling. There are still those who defend Bryan and his actions as honorable. It really makes you wonder about those who are condoning his actions. They throw aspersions at Sean and Grant and anyone who defends them by calling them murderers. Bryan Kocis needed Sean Lockhart silenced but alas that did not happen, someone silenced him.

This is Elmysterio and I’m out

When will this circus ever be over. I wonder if this is the court clerk who will be going to the big house with Conahan and Ciaverella. Would that just be a hoot. He looks like he has something to hide.

Clerk of Courts seeks to intervene in Ciavarella suit against commissioners
By Terrie Morgan-Besecker [email protected]Law & Order Reporter
WILKES-BARRE – Luzerne County Clerk of Courts Robert Reilly on Friday filed a petition seeking to intervene in the lawsuit filed by President Judge Mark Ciavarella that challenges cuts commissioners made in the court’s 2009 budget.
Reilly
The petition, filed by attorney Peter John Moses, argues that decisions affecting the funding of the court system directly impact the operation of his office. It seeks to grant Reilly the right to take part in various court proceedings related to the lawsuit.
Reilly is upset by the commissioners’ decision not to fund four positions within his office. The loss of the positions has left his office incapable of fully meeting its responsibilities and has “threatened the adequate administration of justice,” the petition states.
The clerk of courts handles the filing of criminal cases and associated duties, including collecting and distributing court costs and restitutions, collecting and returning bail money, certifying and distributing court orders and the scheduling and conduction of hearings and other proceedings, the petition says.
“If the clerk of courts is unable to timely file documentation of criminal cases, alone, for example, trials may not be timely scheduled and criminal defendants could be released and charges dismissed for a lack of a speedy trial,” the petition says.
Ciavarella filed suit against the county, its commissioners and salary board in December. The suit contends personnel cuts the commissioners made to the court’s 2009 budget will impede the administration of justice.
Senior Judge C. Joseph Rehkamp of Perry County, who was specially appointed to preside over the case, issued a preliminary injunction barring commissioners from implementing cuts in court branches. That order did not protect the clerk of courts office, however, because it is funded out of the county’s general fund.
Moses said a hearing will be scheduled at which Rehkamp will hear evidence and rule on whether Reilly’s office can intervene.
Terrie Morgan-Besecker, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 570-829-7179.

I wonder oif this is the same county clerks office that screwed up on the charges for Bryan Kocis. I would think that they might want to keep their mouths shut and not draw attention to the fact that they are incompetant. I was reading some of the comments left at the timesleader with regards to the pending arrests and I can only say that Luzerne County is not kind when it comes to saying how they feel about those Judges.

This is Elmysterio and I’m out

Updated: Today at 6:26 AM Sources: Judges to be charged
County court system has been under investigation
By Terrie Morgan-Besecker [email protected]

Law & Order Reporter for the Times leader
WILKES-BARRE – Two sources familiar with federal investigations involving the Luzerne County judiciary said authorities have concluded their probes and are expected to file charges soon, possibly as early as next week.

The sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said two county judges and a county court official are expected to face charges. The sources could not say what those charges will be.

They also declined to publicly identify the suspects because the charges have not been filed.
Speculation that the filing of charges was imminent has run rampant throughout the county courthouse during the past few weeks.
U.S. Attorney Martin Carlson declined to comment when reached late Wednesday afternoon. The U.S. Attorney’s Office has a standard policy of not confirming or denying the existence of an investigation.

The investigations into the county have been public knowledge for several months as federal agents have served search warrants and subpoenas on several court offices.
Federal agents in June served a search warrant on the county’s Juvenile Probation Department seeking financial records related to the placement of juveniles at the PA Child Care and Western PA Child Care centers. Those centers were formerly owned by attorney Robert Powell of Butler Township.

Paul McGarry, administrative director for the court system, said previously that the FBI sought administrative records, including billing statements and records for the number of children who were placed at the centers.
In August, FBI agents served subpoenas on the county treasurer’s office seeking records related to the court system. Sources previously said that investigation focused on whether money confiscated from gambling raids was turned over to the treasurer’s office.

The sources said the investigation began after it was learned that some court orders directing the forfeiture of gambling proceeds did not go through the District Attorney’s office, but instead were presented directly to the court administrator’s office – a departure from standard procedure.

It could not be determined Wednesday whether the pending charges are related to those investigations, or whether other persons may also face charges.

Also in the citizens voice they have this story.

Court appointments won’t be processed,
chief clerk explains
Luzerne County Manager/Chief Clerk Doug Pape said the recent appointments by the court judiciary will not be processed because they don’t fill vacancies.

THE CITIZENS’ VOICE FILE

BY MICHAEL P. BUFFER STAFF WRITER
Published: Thursday, January 22, 2009 3:47 PM EST
WILKES-BARRE — Senior administrators for Luzerne County commissioners said Wednesday they are not going to process personnel appointments ordered by Luzerne County President Judge Mark A. Ciavarella Jr.It’s the latest flap in an ongoing struggle between county commissioners and judges over how much taxpayer funds will go to the judicial branch this year. On Tuesday, Ciavarella issued a court order to transfer his executive secretary Ann M. Hoedl to a new job in court administration and another order to appoint Joseph A. Dessoye as a senior law clerk for Judge Joseph M. Augello.“There are no vacancies for these positions, so we will not process them at this time,” County Manager/Chief Clerk Doug Pape said.Director of Human Resources Doug Richards said Hoedl and Dessoye won’t be paid unless they are appointed to replace someone in a job that had been approved by the county salary board.

Hoedl would take a pay cut from $45,703 to $39,338 in her new job, and Dessoye’s salary would be $39,455, according to court and county documents.
Last month, the judges obtained a temporary injunction to stop cuts in court spending of $3 million, and officials agreed to maintain 2008 personnel and funding levels in the judicial branch while the case is litigated. On Tuesday, Commissioner Chairwoman Maryanne Petrilla said the order to transfer Hoedl violated the agreement, but Ciavarella maintained it was allowed under the agreement because her new job is “an open position in the 2008 budget.”Judicial officials did not respond to messages seeking comment on Wednesday’s development.

The 2009 budget adopted by county commissioners last month eliminated funding for 138 full-time jobs, including 55 in the judicial branch. The litigation stopped plans to lay off 34 court employees.The budget eliminated funding for 65 vacant jobs, and judges have filled at least 10 of those jobs with court orders issued over the last six weeks. County chief solicitor Vito DeLuca said county administrators “will honor” appointments to court jobs that existed in 2008. The county has roughly 1,700 full-time employees, and about 360 work for the judiciary.

[email protected], 570-821-2073

Can you say oops!

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