LI Legislator Indicted After Trying To Trade Drugs For Sex: DA

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY — Suffolk County Legislator Dr. William "Doc" Spencer was indicted Monday after he was charged with offering to supply narcotics to a prostitute in exchange for a sex act, District Attorney Tim Sini said.

Spencer, 54, of Centerport, was charged with third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a felony; third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, felony; first-degree tampering with public records, a felony; first-degree falsifying business records, a felony; first-degree offering a false instrument for filing, a felony; second-degree perjury, a felony; first-degree making an apparently sworn false statement, a felony; third-degree patronizing a person for prostitution, a misdemeanor; and third-degree attempted patronizing a person for prostitution, a misdemeanor, Sini said.

Spencer has served as a Suffolk County Legislator since January 2012 and represents Suffolk County’s 18th Legislative District. He previously operated a private medical practice located at 25 East Carver Street in Huntington as a physician; however, he agreed to a suspension of his medical license during the pendency of the case, Sini said.

After an investigation by the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s Long Island Heroin Task Force, Spencer was contacted by an undercover police officer posing as a prostitute on Oct. 20, 2020, Sini said. Spencer agreed via text message to unlawfully provide the undercover police officer with oxycodone pills, Sini said.

Spencer was arrested at the arranged meeting location in a parking lot behind the Elwood Shopping Center on Jericho Turnpike in Elwood; he was in his county-issued vehicle and was found in possession of two oxycodone pills, Sini said.

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, Sini said.

Spencer gave a written statement to detectives, in which he stated, “I have not sought the services of prostitutes or call girls,” Sini said.

After his arrest, the investigation revealed that he had previously solicited sex workers, therefore revealing the statement to be false, Sini said.

Spencer was arraigned by Suffolk County Supreme Court Justice John B. Collins and was released on his own recognizance, Sini said.

He is due back in court on Dec. 8 and is being represented by Anthony LaPinta, Sini said. If convicted of the top count, Spencer faces a maximum sentence of up to nine years in prison, Sini said.

“Following his arrest, my office conducted an extensive, thorough investigation in collaboration with our law enforcement partners, which resulted in this grand jury indictment,” 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."

News that Spencer was arrested — when he reportedly attempted to trade drugs for sex with a woman he believed to be a prostitute, Sini — left substance abuse prevention advocates stunned.

Spencer publicly led the charge for years in the fight against drugs and vaping in Suffolk County.

For years, Spencer has been a voice in the fight against the opioid crisis — a member of the Suffolk County Opiate and Epidemic Advisory Panel— and led the charge in addressing escalating vaping concerns.

Prevention advocates were stunned by news of Spencer's arrest.

"This all comes as quite a shock as Doc Spencer was an important partner in government as we fought the opioid crisis, tried to limit vaping among kids and addressed other health issues," said Jeffrey Reynolds, president and chief executive officer of the Family and Children's Association in Mineola. "The allegations, though, are a reminder that the opioid crisis isn't over, that women are at higher risk for sexual trauma and that desperate people sometimes do desperate things."

Spencer worked to craft legislation against vaping. In 2019, he described his position to Patch:

"As a practicing physician, specializing in pediatrics, I am astutely aware of health issues impacting our youth. A major pressing issue for me is addressing the vape crisis. Recent reports of several deaths associated with vaping, as well as multiple cases of 'vape lung,' give me great concern, and I am working with our schools and the Health Department to educate parents and students on the dangers of vaping. In addition, I am introducing legislation to help address the epidemic," he said.