WATERLOO (AP) - A former sheriff's misconduct conviction has been thrown out because a grand juror on the panel that indicted him was related to two alleged victims.

Leo Connolly, the former Seneca County sheriff, drew a two-year sentence in October for trying to pin crimes on critics and retaliating against a deputy in a scandal that rocked the sheriff's department. But he was released pending an appeal.

On June 12, the Appellate Division of state Supreme Court in Rochester reversed Connolly's convictions on two misdemeanor counts of official misconduct.

The court said it would allow the case to be presented to a new grand jury.