Suffolk Legislator Tried Trading Drugs For Sex: Suffolk DA

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY — Suffolk County Legis. William "Doc" Spencer was arrested Tuesday when he attempted to trade drugs for sex with a woman he believed to be a prostitute, Suffolk County District Attorney Timothy D. Sini said.

Spencer, 53, of Centerport, showed up to the meeting to trade oxycodone pills for sex, but it was a sting, with an undercover police officer posing as the prostitute, prosecutors said. Spencer, legislator of Suffolk's 18th District and also a doctor, was arrested in a parking lot behind a Goodwill store in Elwood, NBC New York reported.

Spencer was charged with third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance — both Class B felonies — at his Wednesday morning arraignment in Central Islip. Spencer was released on his own recognizance and ordered to surrender his passport and any firearms he had. He is due back in court Feb. 26 and faces up to nine years in prison if convicted of the top count.

Officials — including the Suffolk District Attorney's Office, the United States Drug Enforcement Administration and Long Island Heroin Task Force — were working a drug investigation when it became clear Spencer was in contact with a prostitute, Sini said. The legislator agreed to meet up with the undercover officer and supply her with oxycodone pills, Sini said. He arrived to the meeting in his county-issued car with a pair of oxycodone pills, Sini said.

Officials are executing search warrants and "in the process of uncovering additional crimes committed by Dr. Spencer," Sini said.

Spencer had previous contact with who he thought he was meeting Tuesday, Sini said. Sini would not say if Spencer had a similar arrangement with anyone else. How Spencer got the pills is being investigated, authorities said.

Spencer has been a Suffolk County legislator since 2012. He is a pediatric ear, nose and throat doctor with a practice in Huntington. He served as chief of otolaryngology at Huntington Hospital, but he was removed from the position and had his privileges at the hospital temporarily suspended, according to the District Attorney's Office. Spencer also serves on the county’s Heroin and Opiate Epidemic Advisory Panel, according to Long Island Press.

"Obviously, it’s extremely disturbing that an individual is engaging in this type of behavior who is a sitting county legislator, as well as a medical doctor," Sini said. "Someone who has spoken about drug prevention and substance abuse disorder. That’s very troubling."

Spencer "essentially confessed to the incident" from Tuesday night, Sini said.

Sini emphasized the investigation is not over.

"If and when we present this to a grand jury, we will ensure that all the evidence is laid out before the grand jury, and they will decide what the appropriate charges are," he said.

A loaded handgun was found in Spencer's car, but he has a permit allowing him to carry a firearm to and from his work, Sini said.

"However, obviously that permit did not allow him to bring a loaded firearm to visit a prostitute for drugs," Sini said.

Jesse Garcia, chairman of the Suffolk GOP, said in a statement that Spencer, a Democrat, should immediately step down from his position as a legislator in what he called a "sad and an astounding betrayal of trust."

"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," Garcia said. "His legislative record of sponsoring dozens of resolutions focusing on health and drug abuse make this alleged drug-for-sex trade all the more evil, because he clearly knew the consequences of his behavior on his intended victim."

Garcia said he hopes Spencer gets the help he needs.

"Our prayers are with [Spencer's] family during this difficult time, and anyone that may have been a victim not discovered before [Tuesday] night's arrest."

Rob Calarco, the Suffolk County Legislature's presiding officer, issued a statement:

"The allegations being made against Legislator William Spencer are extremely serious," he wrote. "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."

The 18th Suffolk Legislative District includes Cold Spring Harbor, Greenlawn, Lloyd Harbor, Huntington, Halesite, Huntington Bay, Centerport, Northport, Asharoken and Eaton's Neck, as well as parts of Huntington Station, Elwood and East Northport.