Embattled Rockland politico gets sentencing delayed

NEW CITY – Sentencing for Rockland County Legislator Frank Sparaco set for Thursday has been delayed until April 23 as Sparaco hired a new lawyer to represent him.

In November, Sparaco was charged with more than dozen felony counts connected to the false filing of forged political petitions. On Feb. 6, the controversial political figure pleaded guilty to 10 misdemeanor charges. The plea deal required Sparaco to resign his elected office one day before his sentencing, serve county jail time over eight weekends and get three years probation, during which he cannot be involved in any political activity other than registering in a party and voting.

But as of Thursday, Sparaco hasn't submitted his resignation letter to the Rockland County Legislature. About three weeks ago, he hired a new attorney, Kevin Conway, of Spring Valley, and fired Peter Tilem, a White Plains attorney who negotiated the plea deal with the Rockland County District Attorney's Office.

Clarkstown Justice Howard Gerber, who was displeased by the fact that Sparaco changed his lawyer just before his sentencing, repeatedly asked Conway why Sparaco hasn't resigned. He wanted to know whether Conway advised Sparaco not to resign.

Because Conway declined to answer the question, citing attorney-client privilege, Gerber warned Conway that Sparaco can get a maximum sentence of one year in jail.

"At this point, Mr. Conway, based on your evasiveness, ... I'm reluctant to allow your appearance at this late hour," Gerber said. "Because right now, it's this court's intention to sentence Mr. Sparaco one year in county jail for violating the court order to resign by yesterday."

After a 50-minute conference with Sparaco's attorneys, however, Gerber officially accepted Conway as Sparaco's new lawyer and ordered Sparaco to resign from his elected post by Wednesday — one day before his new sentencing date on April 23.

Prosecutor Richard Kennison Moran said he fully expected Sparaco to be sentenced on April 23.

The felony charges filed against Sparaco in November alleged he filed nominating petitions with the Rockland Board of Elections that contained false statements and information regarding the addresses of the people he was designating for positions in the Clarkstown Republican Party.

On Feb. 6, Sparaco pleaded guilty to eight misdemeanor charges of filing election petitions that nominated Vincent Marzella, Seth Gross and his cousins — Michael Kuropatski and Keith Kuropatski — as candidates for Clarkstown Republican Committee positions, knowingly listing addresses that were not their real residences. He also pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor charges of furnishing false information by renting a room at his Valley Cottage home to the Kuropatski brothers to unlawfully register them to vote in Clarkstown.

After his arrest in November, Sparaco was fired from his $103,600-per-year Clarkstown Highway Department job as confidential secretary to the highway superintendent, even though he had already submitted his resignation letter effective on Dec. 31.

Sparaco was elected to represent Clarkstown in 2007. A U.S. Navy veteran, Sparaco rose through the party ranks, starting with serving as president of the Rockland Young Republicans from 2001-2007. He's been an outspoken advocate for gun rights.

During his run for state Assembly against Kenneth Zebrowski, The Journal News reported he had received campaign contributions from reputed organized crime figures who were friends of his biological father, convicted killer Frank "Blue Eyes" Sparaco. He denied any connection with organized crime.

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