Luzerne corruption probe snares another official

SCRANTON - The lawyer for a former Luzerne County official says his client will plead guilty to accepting a bribe, becoming the 22d person charged in an investigation targeting public corruption in northeastern Pennsylvania.

Douglas Richards, 44, of Wilkes-Barre, is the former director of human resources for Luzerne County. An information filed in federal court yesterday in Scranton charges him with corrupt receipt of a reward for official action. Authorities say Richards accepted more than $1,000 in cash to steer a county contract. Richards' lawyer, William Ruzzo, said yesterday that his client had signed an agreement to plead guilty. - AP