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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; A local legal expert Tuesday said this week&#8217;s ruling for disgraced ex-judge Mark A. Ciavarella Jr. could eventually mean a plea deal that would reduce his decades-long sentence.</p><p>But while a reduction is possible, it&#8217;s not certain if Ciavarella&#8217;s chances of one day being released from prison would be significantly improved.</p><p>Ciavarella is currently six years into a 28-year sentence. He is serving his time at a federal lockup in Kentucky.</p><p>Three of his convictions in the Kids for Cash scandal were overturned Monday by federal judge Christopher C. Conner.</p><p>Prosecutors, meanwhile, said Tuesday they are intent on maintaining the convictions.</p><p>The legal expert, who did not want to be identified, said Ciavarella was granted a new trial on three of the charges and can go to trial on those charges. If Ciavarella wins them all, he still has the sentences from his other convictions to serve. The expert said Ciavarella could also appeal the convictions that Conner did not rule on.</p><p>Another possibility, the expert said, is that Ciavarella and his legal team could try to reach a plea agreement in light of Conner&#8217;s ruling.</p><p>In his order, Conner said Ciavarella should be re-tried on the three counts that had been vacated, adding that a trial date would be set by an order that would come at a later date.</p><p>A statement issued Tuesday by United States Attorney David J. Freed said federal prosecutors are reviewing their options.</p><p>&#8220;We have received and are currently reviewing Chief Judge Conner&#8217;s opinion in United States v. Mark A. Ciavarella Jr.,&#8221; the statement read. &#8220;We will consider all options, as this office remains committed to preserving Ciavarella&#8217;s convictions. The scheme that Ciavarella masterminded to incarcerate juveniles for minor offenses simply to line his pockets and those of his co-defendants in this case is no less shocking today than it was when charged nearly 10 years ago.&#8221;</p><p>Ciavarella, now 67, was convicted in a $2.8 million kickback scheme involving the construction of a for-profit juvenile detention center. Michael Conahan, a retired Luzerne County judge, pleaded guilty.</p><p>In September, Ciavarella argued the attorneys who represented him during his 2011 case were ineffective and did not bring up a statute-of-limitations claim that could have altered his sentence. Conner agreed with the argument made by Ciavarella&#8217;s attorneys, vacating three convictions &#8212; racketeering, racketeering conspiracy and conspiracy to commit money laundering &#8212; but leaving nine in place.</p><p>Al Flora, Ciavarella&#8217;s attorney during the trial, admitted after Conner&#8217;s ruling that the failure to bring up the statute of limitations was a mistake. Flora explained the case was highly complex, and admitted the defense did not expect Ciavarella to be acquitted of the remainder of the 39 charges against him. They would have pushed harder on the statute-of-limitations claim if they had thought that would happen, he said.</p><p>Flora no longer provides counsel for Ciavarella.</p>
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<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/web1_Judge-Christopher-Conner-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Conner </div></div><div class="metaInfo">https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/web1_Judge-Christopher-Conner-1.jpgConner </div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/web1_David-Freed-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Freed </div></div><div class="metaInfo">https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/web1_David-Freed-1.jpgFreed </div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/web1_Ciavarella-cmyk-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Ciavarella </div></div><div class="metaInfo">https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/web1_Ciavarella-cmyk-1.jpgCiavarella </div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><p>By Bill O&#8217;Boyle</p><p>boboyle@www.timesleader.com</p></div><div class="metaInfo"><p>Times Leader Executive Editor Joe Soprano and staff writer Patrick Kernan contributed to this report.</p></div>

Expert: Unclear if Ciavarella ruling will signficantly reduce prison term