Former Village People cop misses court appearance

Instead, the 54-year-old man whose conviction and failure to appear for sentencing last fall sparked a future appearance on "America’s Most Wanted” was once again incognito yesterday.

Defense attorney Dean Johnson, retained by Willis after pleading no contest last September, told the District Attorney’s Office his client was ready to turn himself in after more than three months on the lam. When Willis’ turn came, a camera crew from the television show was present but not the former disco star.

Willis’ no-show nearly guarantees the show’s segment on his case, conviction and pending sentence will still air in its scheduled February slot. The failure to appear, though, may prove much more dire for Willis. The singer was free from custody on his own recognizance after striking a deal with prosecutors but only on the condition that all bets were off if he didn’t come back for sentencing.

On Sept. 1, Willis was promised no more than 16 months in prison by pleading no contest to one count of cocaine possession and one count of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. He also admitted a parole violation. At the time, Judge Mark Forcum said he was willing to consider an intensive residential treatment program. Willis was released but immediately ordered to enroll in rehabilitation.

A month later, Forcum issued a $200,000 arrest warrant after Willis did not show up for his sentencing. He also issued a no-bail warrant for Willis’ parole violation. Defense attorney Kenneth Quigley told the court Willis alerted him the night before about his absence but Forcum did not budge. Forcum also noted the probation report on which sentencing would be based was very negative.

When Willis is finally taken back into custody, his no contest plea will stand but a judge has the right to impose the maximum four-year, four-month sentence to the charges he admitted. Prosecutors can also charge Willis with misdemeanor bail-jumping.

Willis’ plea dismissed four other felonies and a misdemeanor charge of driving on a suspended license stemming from the July 11 incident in Daly City. Police pulling him over for a traffic stop near Geneva Avenue matched him to outstanding warrants from Santa Barbara County. Police reported finding a .45 semiautomatic gun and four grams of cocaine in Willis’ car. Willis allegedly lied initially, claiming to be his brother.

Willis posted $100,000 bail and was free from custody until he appeared in court for a hearing on his probation violation from the Santa Barbara case. Willis was in a Proposition 36 drug treatment program in that incident until he disappeared in February 2005. He eluded police until his July arrest.<