| UPDATE 12/13/2016 - Matthew "Bo" Williams, voted into office as sheriff in Roane County, has resigned from his job as a police officer in the city of Spencer.
Williams is still under investigation by state police, related to a case of missing evidence.
His great uncle, Mayor Terry Williams, says Bo resigned from SPD Monday.
But county officials say Williams has not yet resigned from his position as sheriff-elect.
County officials said it was their first chance to all meet with county Prosecutor Joshua Downey to explore their options, which they did in executive session.
Afterward, commissioners told the audience that, by law, they cannot take any current action because the investigation relates to a case that began before Williams took office.
Williams' term is scheduled to begin Jan. 1, 2017.
Between now and then, Commission President Melissa O'Brien says the easiest conclusion would be a resignation letter.
Otherwise commissioners will have to decide whether or not they want to try to remove Williams through a court system and would only be able to do so if any problems persist into his term.
County officials say it's unclear whether the investigation, in itself, would count as problems spilling over into his term.
They say Williams could be removed if the investigation results in him being convicted of a felony. But, right now, he is not to the point of being charged with a felony.
"We could wait on criminal charges and just see how that plays out," O'Brien said. "Or we could start the resolution process of removing the sheriff-elect from office."
The commission's final meeting before the end of the calendar year is scheduled for Dec. 27.
State police in Wirt County are handling the investigation.
ROANE SHERIFF-ELECT UNDER INVESTIGATION OVER MISSING EVIDENCE - Currently In Drug Rehab(12/2/2016)
MetroNews is reporting that the sheriff-elect of Roane County is in drug rehab and may not be able to begin his term.
Sheriff Todd Cole reported Spencer police officer, Matthew "Bo" Williams said that the sheriff-elect is in rehab, that he's the subject of an investigation.
Spencer officials previously announced an officer was placed on administrative leave Nov. 25 after the city's police department began an internal investigation in connection with missing evidence. State police has now taken over the investigation.
Williams is at a rehab facility outside of West Virginia and "his ability to serve (as sheriff) is very much in question."
The Roane County Commission would make the decision on who would serve if Williams were unable to begin his term.
UPDATE 12/1/2016 - Spencer officials have declined to release the name of a police officer who is under investigation for missing evidence.
Informed sources identified the officer as Bo Williams, who is the sheriff-elect for Roane County.
Spencer Newspapers said, "One source familiar with the investigation described the missing evidence as a large quantity of methamphetamine," the paper indicating other sources saying the officer is currently in a drug treatment center.
ORIGINAL STORY 11/29/2016 - Spencer mayor Terry Williams told state media Tuesday that an internal investigation is underway in the City of Spencer concerning missing evidence.
Williams sent out a press release that said evidence collected in certain criminal investigations was missing, although he declined to name the person under investigation.
Informed sources identified the officer as longtime policeman Bo Williams, who is sheriff-elect of Roane County, set to take office January 1. Bo Williams was described as a "highly respected and award winning officer."
Mayor Williams said the officer was placed on administrative leave, according to the release.
Williams said they've reached out to an outside police agency to conduct a formal investigation relative to the allegations of the police officer.
The outside agency conducting the investigation is the West Virginia State Police.
Williams says that the City of Spencer will fully cooperate with the outside investigation.
Williams also says the city will not comment any further until the investigation is complete.
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