Suffolk Legislator William “Doc” Spencer pleaded not guilty Monday to numerous charges involving the supplying of drugs to a prostitute.
Spencer, a Centerport Democrat representing the 18th District, previously was arraigned on two drug charges.
He was arrested in October 2020 in Elwood, allegedly carrying Oxycodone he planned to give to a prostitute in exchange for sex.
He is charged with: Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, a class B felony; Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, a class B felony; Tampering with Public Records in the First Degree, a class D felony; Falsifying Business Records in the First Degree, a class E felony; Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree, a class E felony; Perjury in the Second Degree, a class E felony; Making an Apparently Sworn False Statement in the First Degree, a class E felony; Patronizing a Person for Prostitution in the Third Degree, a class A misdemeanor; and Attempted Patronizing a Person for Prostitution in the Third Degree, a class B misdemeanor.
“Following his arrest, my office conducted an extensive, thorough investigation in collaboration with our law enforcement partners, which resulted in this Grand Jury indictment,” District Attorney Tim Sini said. “Investigators found that multiple women had allegedly been paid in either cash or drugs for sex acts with the defendant over the course of several years, as corroborated by text message exchanges and other evidence.”
Spencer has served as a Suffolk County legislator since January 2012. He accepted a suspension of his medical license during the length of the case.
Authorities said Spencer was contacted by an undercover police officer posing as a prostitute on Oct. 20, 2020. Spencer allegedly agreed via text message to unlawfully provide the undercover police officer with oxycodone pills. He was arrested at the arranged meeting location, a parking lot behind the Elwood Shopping Center on Jericho Turnpike in Elwood, in his county-issued vehicle and was found in possession of two oxycodone pills.
In July 2020, Spencer had filed a complaint with the Suffolk County Police Department that he had allegedly been the victim of an extortion scheme involving prostitution. Spencer gave a written statement to detectives, in which he stated “I have not sought the services of prostitutes or call girls.” Following his arrest in October 2020, the investigation revealed that he had allegedly previously solicited sex workers, therefore revealing the statement to be false, Sini’s office said.
Spencer is due back in court on Dec. 8 and is being represented by Anthony LaPinta. If convicted of the top count, Spencer faces a maximum sentence of up to nine years in prison.