Photo courtesy of Spencer Newspapers Matthew “Bo” Williams

SPENCER — The newly elected Roane County sheriff resigned Wednesday as part of a plea agreement to a felony charge of entering without breaking.

Matthew “Bo” Williams had been charged earlier this month with grand larceny for allegedly stealing evidence, primarily methamphetamine, from the Spencer Police Department’s evidence room and evidence locker. The investigation did not become public knowledge until after Williams won the election for sheriff, unopposed, in November.

A preliminary hearing for Williams had been scheduled for Wednesday afternoon, said Wood County Prosecuting Attorney Pat Lefebure, appointed special prosecutor in the case because his Roane County counterpart, Josh Downey, was a witness. However, negotiations came together and a change of plea hearing was held, Lefebure said.

“As part of the plea agreement in the case, he (Williams) immediately resigned as sheriff of Roane County and forfeited his law enforcement certificate,” Lefebure said.

Williams faces one to 10 years in prison on the charge. His sentencing is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 28.

The thefts from the Spencer Police Department took place in October and November, according to a criminal complaint filed in Roane County Magistrate Court. Methamphetamine evidence and evidence bags with case numbers corresponding to the missing material were found in the desk and patrol car assigned to Williams, who was a sergeant with the department, the complaint says.

It goes on to say Williams admitted taking the evidence and using meth for more than a year during a Nov. 25 meeting with Downey, Spencer Police Chief Greg Nichols and West Virginia State Police Sgt. F.L. Hammack.

Williams resigned from the Spencer Police Department in December and took over as sheriff Jan. 1.

However, an injunction filed by Downey prohibited Williams  from physically entering the sheriff’s office.

Downey said his own duties could be compromised if Williams had access to the area where evidence was stored. At least two drug cases have already been dismissed as a result of the investigation.

Still, Williams remained sheriff, performing duties like signing documents while Chief Deputy Todd Cole, who had served as sheriff in the previous term, oversaw operations in the office.

The Roane County Commission began the process of trying to remove Williams from office the first week in January.

Now, the commission will hold a special meeting at 9:30 a.m. Friday to formally accept the resignation, name an interim sheriff and begin the process of finding someone who can fill out the entire term, Commission President Melissa O’Brien said.

Since Williams was a Democrat, the commission will have to appoint a Democrat to the position. Commissioners will be accepting applications and are expected to make the appointment within the next 30 days.

“We have already had several people contact us about the position,” O’Brien said.

While it will be up to a vote of all three commissioners, O’Brien said she hopes Cole will accept the interim position since he is a former sheriff, knows how the department operates and can lead them effectively during the transition.

With Williams’ departure, O’Brien said it is time to bring back the faith and confidence of the taxpayers in the department and bring solidarity back to the department itself.

“This will be the first step in doing that,” she said.

Williams was represented by attorney Jim Cagle. A person answering the phone at Cagle’s office Wednesday afternoon said they do not comment on clients.