Highway Robbery?

Patterson’s long-time Highway Superintendent Charles Williams is facing a lengthy state prison term following his arrest for official misconduct.

Williams, 46, a 20-plus year employee of the highway department, was arrested by members of the Brewster State Police last week on seven felony counts of grand larceny along with multiple charges of petit larceny and six counts of official misconduct for allegedly stealing property from the town for his personal use.

District Attorney Adam Levy said among the accusations were that Williams used town-owned propane tanks and chain saws on his Patterson residence as well as an on upstate home while also ordering Patterson highway employees to work on town time renovating his residence and repairing his private vehicles.

The district attorney said Williams was also charged with stealing more than $12,000 in gasoline from the town’s gas pumps for his personal use as well as using town equipment to transport townowned scrap metal to salvage yards and junk dealers and pocketing the proceeds.

Williams was arraigned on the charges before Justice John King and was remanded to the Putnam Correctional Facility on $50,000 bail. A jail spokesman said Williams posted bail two hours later and was released pending a February 18 hearing in Patterson Town Court.

Patterson Supervisor Michael Griffin was saddened and troubled by the accusations: “Our highway department has done a yeoman’s job over the years by completing the Front Street sewer system as well as large amounts of site work at the Patterson Recreational Center. Mr. Williams’s arrest is a surprise and a shock. The allegations are quite disturbing. It is quite unfortunate for Mr. Williams to end a career in such a manner.”

The supervisor assured residents of his town that highway duties would continue unabated: “Two foremen will be leading our great highway crew, who all take their jobs very seriously. Residents of both Patterson and Putnam Lake will not notice any drop-off in services. We will be fine!”

Williams has been barred by a court order from having any contact with high- way employees or visiting the highway department garage on Cornwall Hill Road.

Since the highway superintendent is an elected official, Patterson Town Attorney Timothy Curtiss said the town had no control over his employment status: “The town has no authority to suspend him.”

Williams is Patterson’s highest paid elected official and will continue to collect his nearly $90,000 salary.

Curtiss said the district attorney could request Williams’s removal from office. D.A. Levy told the COURIeR: “My office will comply with all laws as they pertain to the removal of an elected official. Should Mr. Williams be found guilty such a request will occur but we can’t remove the man on charges alone.”

Williams faces up to 15 years in a state penitentiary if found guilty.