Man beaten by ex-police chief to be freed

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Christopher Loeb, of Smithtown, Long Island, was jailed after he stole a duffel bag containing sex toys and police equipment from the vehicle of Ex-Suffolk County Police Chief James Burke. Burke beat up Loeb in retaliation. (Suffolk County PD)

RIVERHEAD, N.Y. (AP) -- A thief who was beaten and threatened by a Long Island police chief will be freed from prison.

Christopher Loeb, of Smithtown, was jailed after he stole a duffel bag containing sex toys and police equipment from the vehicle of Suffolk County Police Chief James Burke.

Burke beat up Loeb at a police station in 2012 in retaliation for the crime.

He covered up the assault for years, but pleaded guilty last year and is serving a nearly 4-year prison term.

Loeb was sentenced to three years after pleading guilty to criminal possession of a weapon. His attorney argued that the plea be vacated because of perjured police testimony.

Newsday reports that Loeb will be freed Tuesday after a special prosecutor agrees to vacate his conviction.

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