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Kathy Griffin both contrite and combative in response to Trump controversy

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Happy birthday James Cornelius Kush!

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; With nearly three quarters of his $160,181 in restitution paid, former Newport Township manager Richard Zika wants to avoid prison so he can pay back the rest of the money he admitted stealing on the job over an eight-year period.</p><p>Paperwork filed Friday in Luzerne County Court seeks probation for the ailing Zika, 72, who&#8217;s scheduled for sentencing next week on a felony theft charge.</p><p>Defense attorney Paul Ackourey linked the theft to Zika&#8217;s medical problems, noting it&#8217;s marred his otherwise &#8220;stellar reputation&#8221; earned as a parent and grandparent and from years serving the community through organizations such as Junior Achievement, Little League, Scouting, hunter education and Masonic activities.</p><p>&#8220;While not offered as an excuse for his criminal behavior, much of the defendant&#8217;s criminality can be tied to the expenses of maintaining health insurance coverage and paying out of pocket expenses associated with medical treatment,&#8221; Ackourey wrote.</p><p>According to the filing, Zika suffers from a range of medical problems including diabetes, sleep apnea, morbid obesity and possibly Parkinson&#8217;s Disease. In addition, he is on oxygen and is prescribed a &#8220;plethora of medications.&#8221;</p><p>But equally as pressing is his financial condition. Zika and his wife, Bernice, have a combined monthly income of $1,871 with most of it coming from Social Security payments. When compared with their monthly household expenses of $2,525, they come up short, the filing noted.</p><p>Still Zika has been able to make restitution of $115,000 by selling his house, Ackourey said. The township has been made whole with a payment of $59,181 and the township&#8217;s insurance company, Travelers Insurance Co. received $55,818, leaving a balance of $45,181 payable to the county Probation and Parole Office.</p><p>Given Zika&#8217;s age, health and finances Ackourey said his client will likely reach out to others to pay off the balance.</p><p>&#8220;I would think he would need the assistance of friends and family,&#8221; Ackourey said.</p><p>Some have written letters of support for the court to consider when imposing Zika&#8217;s sentence. &#8220;The letters further attest to defendant&#8217;s strong sense of obligation and responsibility,&#8221; Ackourey wrote.</p><p>Zika&#8217;s sentencing is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Monday by Luzerne County Judge David Lupas.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Zika </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/web1_Zika.jpg</photo0><caption0>Zika </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Jerry Lynott</p><p>jlynott@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Jerry Lynott at 570-991-6120 or on Twitter @TLJerryLynott.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Attorney seeks leniency for ex-Newport Twp. manager to be sentenced for theft