BREWSTER – The former Town of Patterson Highway superintendent Thursday pled guilty to a charge of grand larceny in the third degree in full satisfaction of the indictment against him.

Charles Williams, Jr. will be sentenced to probation in return, said his attorney, Michael Pollok of Rhinebeck. Aside from probation, he must pay back close to $37,000 taken from taxpayers by the day of his sentence.

Williams, 47, was arrested in February of last year and charged by State Police with stealing town gas for personal vehicles, stealing tools and using town fill material for personal use.

He was also charged with selling scrap metal owned by the town and using town vehicles and heavy equipment to improve his cabin in upstate Salisbury.

At his plea on Thursday, Williams, who resigned last Friday, said he “allowed personal losses and personal problems to interfere with my performance as highway superintendent.” He apologized to the people of Patterson “for my failings and shortcomings and I hope that someday they will be able to forgive me for this conduct.”

"Charlie is not the person he is being potrayed as by some people," said Pollok. "The conduct alleged in the indictment was carried out with the help of multiple uncharged accomplices who were also the witnesses against Charlie. I think that the quality of this evidence speaks for itself and it is why the law prohibits a conviction based soley upon accomplice testimony. There were serious problems with this case and the plea bargain reflects that."