A former high-ranking Nassau County cop was cleared last night of a felony charge of receiving a reward for official misconduct, for allegedly trying to prevent the arrest of a wealthy pal’s son.
Ex-Deputy Commissioner William Flanagan, 55, however, was found guilty Thursday and yesterday of misdemeanor charges of official misconduct and conspiracy.
But a jury acquitted him of the more serious charge, which could have netted him four years behind bars.
Flanagan was on trial for trying to prevent the arrest of Zachary Parker in 2009.
Parker was accused of stealing more than $10,000 worth of electronics from John F. Kennedy HS in Bellmore when he was a student there.
Parker’s father, Gary, allegedly asked Flanagan and other police brass to get a school official to drop the charges after the property was returned.
When the official refused, Gary Parker asked cops to “lay low” on the investigation, prosecutors said.
Flanagan, along with Deputy Chief of Patrol John Hunter and Detective Alan Sharpe, again tried to persuade the administrator to drop the charges, without success.
Sharpe then instructed a subordinate to “close out” the case, falsely claiming the school administrator did not want Zachary arrested. Zachary was later convicted.
Flanagan got $300 worth of Morton’s Steakhouse gift cards from Gary Parker, according to the Nassau District Attorney’s Office.
Flanagan, who made $224,929 in 2011, now faces a year in prison.