A Merrick man was sentenced Friday to five years’ probation for burglarizing a high school in the case that three ex-Nassau County police officials allegedly tried to cover up as a favor to his father.
Nassau County Judge John Kase spared Zachary Parker from serving any jail time after the 20-year-old apologized in court. Parker, who had pleaded guilty to burglary and criminal possession of stolen property in March, faced up to seven years in prison.
Prosecutors say that in 2009, Parker broke into the John F. Kennedy High School in Bellmore on two separate occasions, stealing a total of approximately $11,000 in video equipment. Kase granted Parker youthful offender status because he was a minor at the time of the incident, sealing the record.
Prosecutors have separately alleged three former police commanders tried to nix the initial burglary investigation at the request of Parker’s father, Gary, a donor to a police nonprofit.
Former Nassau County Police Second Deputy Commissioner William Flanagan, former Deputy Chief Inspector John Hunter and retired Detective Sergeant Al Sharpe each pleaded not guilty to conspiracy and official misconduct in that case.
Parker still faces two drug charges in Nassau, including a felony drug charge and a misdemeanor marijuana charge.
A grand jury inducted Parker for the burglary and the ex-cops for the alleged cover-up following an investigation sparked by a Long Island Press expose.
