Former Patterson Highway Superintendent Pleads Guilty
Former Patterson highway superintendent Charles Williams, who resigned Friday, pled guilty to third-degree grand larceny, a Class D felony, at Putnam County Court in Carmel Thursday.
Williams, who admitted to using town employees to renovate his home, likely faces five years of probation plus time served. Williams spent 97 days in prison and has been under house arrest, with an electronic bracelet, since May. Williams will also have to reimburse $36,848 from proceeds of the larcenies, plus $14,679 for three all-terrain vehicles and $22,000 in estimated improvements to his home.
“I regret that over the past few years I allowed personal losses and personal problems to interfere with my performance as highway superintendent,” Williams said in a statement released by his attorney, Michael Pollok. “I sincerely apologize to the people of Patterson for my failings and shortcomings.”
Williams admitted that between July 19 and August 31, 2006 he committed larceny.
“Are you pleading guilty because you are, in fact, guilty?” Assistant District Attorney Christopher York, who appeared in court Thursday afternoon on behalf of the prosecution, asked Williams.
Williams responded, “Yes, sir.”
York said his priorities were getting a felony conviction and making sure the taxpayers got their money back.
Williams, 47, was arrested Feb. 3, 2010 for three counts of third-degree grand larceny, four counts of fourth-degree grand larceny, two counts of petit larceny, six counts of official misconduct and one count of public lewdness.
Adam has worked in the local news industry for the past two decades in Westchester County and the broader Hudson Valley. Read more from Adam’s author bio here.