Prevention Advocates Stunned By Lawmaker's 'Drugs-For-Sex' Charge

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY — News that Suffolk County Legis. William "Doc" Spencer was arrested Tuesday — when he reportedly attempted to trade drugs for sex with a woman he believed to be a prostitute, according to Suffolk County District Attorney Timothy D. Sini — left substance abuse prevention advocates stunned.

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

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.

According to NBCNY.com, Spencer stepped down Thursday as majority leader of the Suffolk County Legislature's Democratic Caucus.

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. "Whether there’s more to this story remains to be seen. 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."

He added: "As this story unfolds, we can only hope that it prompts a renewed focus on our region’s opioid crisis and that everyone involved, including any victims, Doc and his family can find some peace and a path to recovery.”

Newscaster Drew Scott, who lost his granddaughter Hallie Rae to an opioid overdose in 2017 and has spent the years since dedicated to raise awareness, also reflected on the news.

"I think it is ironic that Dr. Spencer is accused of abusing his position as a doctor to allegedly trade opioids for sex and the corporate giant Pharma announces that it is settling lawsuits by pledging over $8 billion to towns and states to pay for recovery and prevention programs," he said. "We need to re-double our efforts to help our community because the numbers show we have lost ground during this pandemic."

To that end, he said, the Southampton Town Addiction & Recovery Committee, which Scott co-chairs, has just published a new contact list for families, and he has just completed a new radio public service announcement, "reminding our residents that addiction help is still available during this pandemic."

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 two oxycodone pills, Sini said.

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