SPENCER, W.Va. — The Roane County Commission accepted the resignation of Sheriff William “Bo” Williams and selected an interim sheriff during its Friday meeting.
Chief Deputy Todd Cole will serve as the interim sheriff through Feb. 9. Cole, a former Roane County Sheriff, has been with Sheriff’s Office for nearly 30 years.
“He worked down the chain of command and he’s the next in line. He’s just leaving the sheriff’s position, so for continuity and quality purposes, I think he’s the man to take us through our interim. I’m sure he’ll throw his name in the hat to fill the vacancy as well,” said Roane County Commission President Melissa O’Brien.
The Commission is accepting letters of interest for the sheriff job through Feb. 3. A new sheriff will be named on Feb. 9. That sheriff will serve until the 2018 election, O’Brien said.
Williams, 31, handed in his written resignation Wednesday as part of a plea deal with prosecutors. He pleaded guilty to charges related to stolen drugs from an evidence locker at the Spencer Police Department. Williams, a former Spencer police officer, allegedly stole 20 grams of methamphetamine from the locker. Investigators also found open bags of drugs in the trunk of the Spencer police cruiser he was driving.
“Obviously, it was very surprising,” said O’Brien. “Nothing that we’d ever hoped to have to deal with, but we all — within the courthouse and our community — work very well together and making the best of this situation moving forward.”
State police arrested Williams shortly after he was suspended from the Spencer Police Department in connection with the missing evidence. Williams was elected sheriff last November. He began serving his term on Jan. 1, but was taken into custody a few days later and charged with grand larceny.
Williams remains free on bond. He is prohibited from acting as a police officer and prohibited from entering the Roane County Sheriff’s Office and the Sheriff’s Tax Office, according to the conditions of his bond.
Sentencing for Williams is scheduled for Mar. 28.