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Suffolk County Legislator Dr. William Spencer (D-Centerport) was
arrested Tuesday for allegedly trying to trade drugs for sexual
favors from an undercover police officer posing as a sex worker,
authorities said.

Spencer, 53, pleaded not guilty Wednesday at First District Court in
Central Islip to felony counts of criminal possession of a narcotic
drug with intent to distribute and criminal possession of a
controlled substance.

“The allegations being made against Legislator William Spencer are
extremely serious,” Suffolk County Legislature Presiding Officer Rob
Calarco (D-Patchogue) said. “We have very little information, and at
this time, I will not be making any further statement. Our thoughts
are with his wife and children during this difficult time.”

Suffolk County District Attorney Timothy Sini said prosecutors will
“hold criminals accountable no matter who they are or what their
walk of life is.” The arrest was made following a joint
investigation with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

WNBC-TV, which broke the story, reported Dr. Spencer drove his
county-issued vehicle to meet an undercover investigator posing as a
sex worker with whom he thought he could swap two oxycodone pills
for sex, but it was a sting operation set up by a task force that
was tipped off to Spencer’s alleged behavior after a previous drug investigation.

Spencer is the second Suffolk legislator to be arrested in about a
year. Suffolk Legislator Rudy Sunderman (R-Mastic) was arrested in
2019 on perjury charges resulting from a county ethics law
investigation, Suffolk prosecutors have said. Sunderman has pleaded
not guilty and remains a sitting lawmaker while that case is
pending.

Spencer, a five-term legislator first elected in 2011, is also a
minister, Democratic majority leader, chairman of the legislature’s
health committee, the first medical doctor currently serving on the legislature, member of the county’s Heroin and Opiate Epidemic
Advisory Panel, and is a pediatric ear, nose, and throat doctor with
a private practice in Huntington. He was reportedly suspended as
chief of otolaryngology at Huntington Hospital.

“This alleged act was an attempt to abuse his position of power and
trust, prey on women, and take advantage of those he believed were
prisoners of addiction,” Suffolk GOP Chairman Jesse Garcia said. “I
hope Dr. Spencer receives the help he needs. Our prayers are with
his family during this difficult time, and anyone that may have been
a victim not discovered before last night’s arrest.”

Suffolk County Court Judge Pierce Cohalan ordered Spencer free
without bail and required the doctor to surrender his passport and
any firearms in his possession. He faces up to nine years in prison,
if convicted. He is due back in court on Feb. 26.

Sini said the investigation is continuing.

https://www.longislandpress.com/2020/10/21/suffolk-lawmaker- william-spencer-arrested-in-sex-for-drugs-sting/

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