SCRANTON — A former Pennsylvania juvenile court judge convicted in a $1 million kickback scheme involving privately owned juvenile detention centers wants his conviction on racketeering charges overturned.

Former Luzerne County Judge Mark Ciavarella (shiv-uh-REL'-uh) filed motions Friday asking a federal judge to toss his convictions on charges including racketeering and money laundering conspiracy.

Ciavarella was convicted last month of taking payments from the owner of two detention centers in a scheme involving another judge. The scandal prompted the state Supreme Court to toss thousands of juvenile convictions issued by Ciavarella, saying they were tainted.

One motion seeks a new trial, claiming the court erred on several issues. Others claim the statute of limitations had passed for some charges.

PITTSBURGH — A federal judge has refused to appoint a free public defender to help an unemployed white immigration attorney appeal his death sentence for an April 2000 Pittsburgh-area shooting rampage that eventually left six people dead.Forty-five-year-old Richard Baumhammers, of Mount Lebanon, also is appealing in state court and says his parents are paying for that attorney. But Baumhammers wanted a free federal attorney, saying his parents will not be able to afford a second attorney.Allegheny County Judge Jeffrey Manning indefinitely delayed Baumhammers' execution last year, pending his state appeals.A federal judge ruled Thursday that Baumhammers doesn't need a federal attorney yet because he won't file any federal appeals unless he first loses in state court.

PITTSBURGH — A federal grand jury in Pittsburgh has indicted 29 alleged members of a violent street gang about a year after indicting 26 people on charges they were part of a rival gang.Thursday's indictments target the Manchester OGs, which stands for “Original Gangsters.” U.S. Attorney David Hickton says the group distributes heroin and commits robberies to fund its activities.

HOLLIDAYSBURG — A Blair County judge has found a 16-year-old high school student guilty of stabbing a classmate in front of the school’s field house last year.Jeremiah Moser, of Altoona, was adjudicated delinquent on Thursday. The victim has recovered from a single stab wound that deflected off his shoulder blade.Thursday’s ruling is the juvenile court equivalent of a guilty verdictMoser originally was charged as an adult and faced a long prison sentence if convicted in the Dec. 17 attack near Altoona Area High School.