A federal judge has refused to throw out the guilty verdicts in the corruption case against former Suffolk County District Attorney Tom Spota and his top aide.
Spota and the aide, Christopher McPartland, were found guilty last year on federal charges of witness tampering and obstruction of justice for covering up the 2012 assault of a handcuffed man by ex-police chief, James Burke.
Lawyers for Spota and McPartland had wanted the convictions thrown out. They argued in court documents that the government’s star witness had perjured himself, so a new trial was necessary.
The judge said the perjury claims had no merit.
Spota and McPartland could face up to 20 years in prison.
