Ex-Village People Cop Nabbed

The original “police officer” of the Village People pleaded not guilty March 28th to charges of drug possession and giving false information to a police officer.

Victor Willis, who co-wrote the hits “YMCA” and “In The Navy,” was taken into custody March 26th after the car he and a woman were traveling in was pulled over by police in a routine traffic stop. Neither had proper identification, they gave false names and were alleged to have been found with cocaine and drug paraphernalia. The former disco star was later identified through fingerprints.

The arrest ends a five-month search for Willis. He was already wanted for failing to appear at a sentencing hearing on cocaine and weapons charges stemming from his arrest in Daly City, Calif., last July. Willis was featured on an episode of television’s “America’s Most Wanted” in December.

Willis had agreed to a plea bargain that would have sentenced him to no more than 16 months in prison, but never showed up for sentencing. For jumping bail, a judge could sentence him to a maximum of four years and four months.

Willis, who is no longer a part of the Village People, is scheduled to return to court on the current charges April 10th. A new sentencing date on the previous charges has not been set.