Matthew "Bo" Williams, the newly-elected sheriff of Roane County, resigned from his post while also admitting in court Wednesday to stealing methamphetamine from an evidence locker at the Spencer Police Department.
Williams, who was with the Spencer Police Department before winning the election, pleaded guilty to a charge of entering without breaking, a felony, said Josh Downey, Roane County prosecuting attorney.
The charge carries a possible sentence of one to 10 years in jail, Downey said.
Williams' case is being prosecuted by Pat Lefebure, of the Wood County Prosecutor's Office, Downey said. Lefebure was appointed because of Downey's conflict of interest, he said. Downey is related to Williams by marriage, he told the Gazette-Mail.
Williams had been charged with grand larceny for stealing more than $1,000 in evidence, including methamphetamine.
Downey had also filed an emergency petition against Williams to keep him from physically entering the sheriff's office.
That petition was dismissed because as a part of Williams' bond, he is no longer allowed to be a police officer or enter the office, Downey said.
Downey said the Roane County Commission plans to meet Friday to formally accept Williams' resignation and appoint an interim sheriff.
An email to commission president President Melissa O'Brien and a call to commissioner Randy Whited went unanswered Wednesday.
Williams also is giving up his credentials to be a police officer again, Downey said.
"A convicted felon is not allowed to carry a firearm either," he said.
Williams was elected to serve as sheriff Nov. 8. He was placed on leave from the Spencer Police Department on Nov. 25 and resigned from the department on Dec. 12.
The county commission will appoint a new permanent sheriff within 30 days, Downey said. The new sheriff will be in office until the 2018 election cycle, he said.
Earlier this month the commission took a step toward removing Williams from office, approving a resolution stating that any county officer can be removed for incompetence, including addiction to narcotics.
The resolution also noted that on Nov. 25, Williams admitted to removing methamphetamine from the Spencer Police Department and having a year-and-a-half-long addiction to methamphetamine.
Reach Lori Kersey at lori.kersey@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-1240 or follow @LoriKerseyWV on Twitter.