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Former Salisbury Police Chief Granted $69,000 Pension, Despite Criminal Charges

SALISBURY, Mass. (AP) -- The former police chief in Salisbury has been granted a $69,000 annual pension despite allegations that he traded drugs and other favors for sex from female criminal suspects and stole from crime scenes.

The Essex County Retirement Board granted David L'Esperance a pension over the objections of Salisbury town officials, who wanted to wait until the criminal case against was resolved.

The 51-year-old L'Esperance, of Seabrook, N.H., retired in January amid the investigation.

He has pleaded not guilty to four counts of larceny and is free of personal recognizance.

L'Esperance's lawyer argued that the pension couldn't be withheld because he hasn't been convicted. The board's executive director tells The Daily News of Newburyport that a person can lose their pension if convicted of a job-related crime.

(© Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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