Friday, December 5, 2008

Former mosquito board candidate Andy Williams, who is serving a 364-day sentence for violating probation, is facing more charges, this time from Lake County.

The Lake County Sheriff's Office on Wednesday charged Williams with violating an earlier probationary agreement stemming from a Dec. 21, 2006, arrest in that county for allegedly possessing cocaine and knowingly attaching a license plate to a vehicle not assigned to that tag.

Williams, 45, of Roberta Street in Key West, has been in jail since Oct. 21, when he was charged with violating probation in Monroe County because a mandatory drug test came back positive for cocaine.

It was the third time Williams was charged with violating his probation this year. He was charged Sept. 19 and Aug. 29, three days after his Aug. 26 Republican primary win over Pat Unferth, in which he captured 56 percent of the vote to her 44 percent.

Williams -- who while in jail lost the general election to Joan Lord-Papy for the $19,000 annual job as District 1 representative on the Florida Keys Mosquito Control District board -- initially was convicted on two felony cocaine charges. In exchange for his May 16 plea agreement, a circuit judge withheld attaching a felony conviction to his record if he followed the requirements of a two-year probation.

After he failed to show up for his twice-a-week drug test in September, the judge added six months to his probation.

It is unclear what the most recent probationary violation from Lake County will mean for Williams. Once he finishes serving his 364-day sentence in Monroe County, he will be extradited to Lake County for a court appearance there, said Becky Herrin, the local sheriff's spokeswoman.

"He could post $1,000 bond here and appear up there on his own," Herrin said.

If Williams can't post bond, then he would remain in custody until the matter in Lake County is resolved, Herrin said.

alinhardt@keysnews.com