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Spota, 78, and Christopher McPartland, 53, were found guilty following a six-week trial of all charges, including obstruction of justice, witness tampering and acting as accessories to the deprivation of inmate Christopher Loeb's civil rights.
The jury deliberated for nearly a full day before returning the guilty verdict. When they are sentenced, Spota and McPartland will face up to 20 years in prison.
The jury determined that Spota and McPartland obstructed justice by covering for former Suffolk County Police Chief James Burke, who abused Loeb in 2012. Loeb had allegedly stolen a duffel bag from an unmarked police vehicle in front of Burke’s home before the beating.
According to reports, the jury ruled that Spota conspired with Burke and McPartland to pressure witnesses not to cooperate with an investigation into the former police chief, who allegedly assaulted Loeb while he was handcuffed after being arrested for breaking into his vehicle.
The stolen duffel bag reportedly contained Burke’s gun belt, ammunition, a box of cigars and a bag containing sex toys and pornography.
It was alleged that Spota, McPartland, Burke and other police investigators met and discussed how to conceal Burke's role in the assault on Loeb. They were found guilty of pressuring people not to cooperate, they also asked witnesses to provide investigators with false information and withhold relevant information from investigators.
Burke - who has been described as Spota’s “protege” - served four years in federal prison for violating civil rights after pleading guilty in February 2016. He was released last year. Loeb, a recovering addict, received a $1.5 million settlement from Suffolk County last year as a result of the incident.
A three-year prison sentence that Loeb was serving was vacated once Burke pleaded guilty.
"The very people charged with upholding the law were the ones who were found guilty of assisting James Burke in his attempt to get away with his crime," Suffolk County Police Commissioner Geraldine Hart stated. ”Instead of being leaders and standing up for justice, they did their best to manipulate the system and everyone who stood in their way.
"The actions of former District Attorney Thomas Spota and his Chief Aide Christopher McPartland go against everything that this department stands for, and it is unfortunate that their illegal activities could cast a negative light on the public's perception of this police department. Instead of supporting the proud men and women of this department, this trio focused on corruption and cover-ups."
U.S. Attorney Richard Donoghue was expected to make a statement shortly after noon on Tuesday, Dec. 17.
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