Former Suffolk Prosecutors Lose Appeal Over Cover-Up Convictions

Two former prosecutors convicted of covering up a 2012 assault by the then-police chief for Suffolk County lost their appeals, after the Second Circuit rejected claims that irrelevant and inflammatory evidence was improperly admitted.

Christopher McPartland and Thomas Spota argued that certain testimony—including evidence about a “party bag” and fear of retaliation—shouldn’t have been admitted at trial.

But the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit largely rejected the claims, finding any error harmless.

Then-police chief James Burke had interrogated a suspect for allegedly burglarizing vehicles, including his own cruiser. Among the items stolen from Burke’s car was a ...