Opening statements begin at 10 a.m. Tuesday in the trial of William Flanagan, one of three Nassau Cops who allegedly conspired to and intentionally prevented the arrest of a Merrick teenager whose father was a financial benefactor of the police.
According to multiple reports, Zachary Parker of Merrick, now 20, was charged with stealing more than $3,000 worth of computers after he allegedly broke into Kennedy High School in 2009.
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Parker's attorney, Marc Gann of Mineola told Newsday that police never arrested him.
Gann said Parker's father, Gary Parker, who has friends in the police department, contacted school and police officials and asked them to handle the incident as a civil rather than a criminal matter.
Flanagan, 52, is charged with Receiving Reward for Official Misconduct, a Class E felony, two counts of Official Misconduct, and Conspiracy in the Sixth Degree. He faces up to four years in prison if convicted. His annual salary as of Dec. 31, 2011 was $224,929. Flanagan submitted his resignation on Feb. 29.
"This is a sad day for law enforcement in Nassau County," District Attorney Kathleen Rice said after Flanagan and his two colleagues were indicted. "These defendants violated their oath and the law when they prevented a suspect's arrest and took investigative direction from the suspect's father. The people of Nassau County deserve equal and fair justice, and they deserve public officials who will perform their duties free from undue influence."
Parker was sentenced to 2.5 years in prison and pleaded guilty to charges of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Fifth and Seventh Degrees and Driving While Ability Impaired by Drugs.
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