The NYPD cop accused of torturing and killing his 8-year-old autistic son was declared indigent and given a court-appointed lawyer for his Suffolk County murder case on Thursday.
Michael Valva, 40, had twice cried poverty in Suffolk County criminal court last month, where he is charged with the Jan. 17 death of Thomas Valva, who died from extreme hypothermia after being locked in a freezing garage overnight, according to prosecutors.
On Feb. 24, his latest lawyer removed himself from the case over a potential conflict of interest.
But the 15-year police department veteran finally scored a free lawyer Thursday.
“He received a letter from the city of New York declaring him AWOL from his employment as a New York City police officer, so they have ceased paying him,” David Russo, administrator of the court-appointed panel, told the judge at a pre-trial hearing Thursday. “At this point in time, he is essentially indigent.”
Valva was suspended without pay following his arrest.
Suffolk County Supreme Court Judge William Condon appointed John LoTurco to represent the disgraced cop in the case.
Valva and his ex-girlfriend, Angela Polina, 42, were both charged in Thomas’ death.
In court Thursday, LoTurco maintained that the fallen cop was innocent — and claimed that his son’s death was just a horrible accident.
“We contend that Thomas death was a nightmarish accidental death and clearly not a murder,” LoTurco said. “This garage was unlocked, had a large electric space heater and was attached to the family home.”
“Michael Valva is being portrayed as a monster when in actuality he is a caring father of three boys and his fiancee’s three daughters,” LoTurco said.
Valva is being held without bail.