Suffolk County Legislator, Dr. William Spencer, was arrested Tuesday on drug charges after he tried to exchange opioid painkillers for sex in a parking lot.
Spencer pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Wednesday. He was released from custody and is due back in court in February. Spencer faces up to 9 years in prison.
Prosecutors say he had a longtime relationship with a woman in prostitution. A federal agent had possession of her phone when Spencer agreed to swap pills for sex. He was arrested with two Oxycodone pills, condoms and a loaded gun that he had a permit for, but not to carry.
Spencer is an ear, nose and throat doctor who represents the county’s 18th district in Huntington as a Democrat. He serves on the county’s heroin and opiate epidemic advisory panel. Spencer was put on suspension by Huntington Hospital.
County law does not require him to step down as legislator due to an arrest. Several colleagues have already called for his resignation.
