Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 43-year-old Douglas D. Williams of Buffalo has been arraigned before Buffalo City Court Judge Amy C. Martoche on the following felony charges:

• Two counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, Class “B” felonies
• One count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a Class “C” felony
• One count of Aggravated Cruelty to Animals, a Class “E” felony
• One count of Permitting Animal Fighting on One’s Premises, a Class “E” felony
• Criminally Using Drug Paraphernalia in the Second Degree, a Class “A” misdemeanor

The defendant was arraigned on Saturday, October 10, 2020.

The defendant was the subject of an investigation led by the Erie County Sheriff’s Office. It is alleged that on the evening of Friday, October 9, 2020, the defendant was arrested during a traffic stop in the Town of Clarence and a search warrant was executed at his residence on the 2000 block of Bailey Avenue in the City of Buffalo. Inside the house, investigators allegedly found an illegal firearm, a scale as well as a quantity of cocaine, heroin and fentanyl. Five Pitbull terriers, believed to be used for dog fighting, were also allegedly found in inadequate conditions inside the home. Two other dogs were allegedly in the vehicle with the defendant at the time of his arrest.

The dogs are in the care and custody of the SPCA Serving Erie County.

Williams is scheduled to return on Thursday, October 15, 2020 at 2 p.m. for a felony hearing. He was released on $40,000 bail posted in Buffalo City Court.

If convicted on all charges, Williams faces up to 25 years in prison.

DA Flynn commends the Erie County Sheriff’s Office, the Buffalo Police Department’s Intel Unit, and the SPCA Serving Erie County for their work in this investigation.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Rachel Kranitz McPhee of the DA’s Animal Cruelty Unit.

As are all persons accused of a crime, the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.