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Suffolk Democrat “Doc” Spencer Headed to Jail


By Niall Fitzgerald

William “Doc” Spencer, the former Suffolk County Legislator - and the Legislature’s former Democratic Majority Leader - went to prison last Friday, after pleading guilty in a lurid felony sex-for-drugs crime.

Spencer, a 55-year-old Centerport resident, pled guilty to tampering with public records and patronizing a prostitute in a plea deal. Spencer represented Lloyd Harbor, Cold Spring Harbor, Huntington, Centerport and Northport in the Legislature.

Spencer was caught in a police sting operation, with Oxycodone pills stolen from Huntington Hospital, personal lubricant – and a loaded gun - behind the Dix Hills Goodwill shop, where he had arranged to meet the prostitute to swap drugs for sex.

Although arrested in 2020, Spencer refused to resign, and stayed in office for over a year – collecting over $100,000 in salary and benefits from Suffolk County. His last act as a Legislator was a New Year's Eve vote to ram-through an attempted Gerrymander of the Legislature's district lines - that was later vetoed by County Executive Steve Bellone (D-Babylon) as illegal.

The police sting operation was prompted by a police investigation into the drug overdose death of the prostitute.

Spencer’s personal texts detailing prior drug rendezvous were found on the dead prostitute’s mobile phone. The police then contacted Spencer, who did not know the prostitute was dead, for to arrange a new drugs-for-sex meeting.

Suffolk police could not confirm whether the drugs that killed the prostitute were supplied by Spencer or another person.

Spencer will serve a six-month jail sentence, and perform 420 hours of community service while on probation. He agreed that he will not be allowed ever again to hold a license to prescribe drugs.

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