Gary Craig

@gcraig1

Dr. William Lewek%2C 62%2C admitted that he hid the body of Matthew Straton on Oct. 29%2C police say

Sources say Lewek allegedly informed someone else about the remains%2C and that led to a tip to police

Police also allege that they found 17 small bags of crack cocaine at Lewek%27s house

Late Friday%2C RPD announced that no other bodies were found at 27 Rowley St.

In the end, police allege, the psychiatrist could not keep his own secret.

Dr. William Lewek, 62, admitted that he hid the body of Matthew Straton in the early morning hours of Oct. 29, within a day after Straton was reported missing, police allege. The remains of Straton, 32, were found Wednesday evening behind Lewek's city home at 27 Rowley St.

Lewek, a psychiatrist, confessed to hiding the body beneath a patio chair and a pile of debris, grass, and dirt, Rochester police Investigator Randy Benjamin alleged in court papers.

Also, according to sources knowledgeable of the investigation, Lewek allegedly informed someone else about the remains, and that led to a tip to police. To whom Lewek allegedly told his secret has not been revealed.

At an arraignment Friday, City Court Judge Melchor Castro entered a not guilty plea for Lewek, who is accused of tampering with physical evidence and possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell.

Police also allege that they found 17 small bags of crack cocaine at Lewek's house. The drugs were stuffed into the toe of a white sneaker in Lewek's bedroom, police Investigator Michael Houlihan alleges in court papers made available Friday.

The amount of the drugs, considered too much for personal use, prompted the charge of possession with intent to sell, according to First Assistant District Attorney Kelly Wolford.

Lewek is a certified addiction counselor.

Castro set a bail of $500,000 for Lewek. Wolford had requested a bail of $1 million.

Later in the day, Lewek hired attorney J. Matthew Parrinello, who appeared before County Court Judge John Demarco on a bail hearing.

Demarco lowered the bail to $350,000, according to Wolford.

Lewek was still jailed Friday night.

The charges against him will be presented to a grand jury.

At arraignment, wearing a brown sports jacket, holding court papers in hands clasped behind his back, Lewek matter-of-factly answered questions from Castro. Lewek said he would not flee if allowed free, and he would find an attorney to represent him.

For Straton's family, the discovery of his body answered their most pressing question — the location of Matthew — yet left many others unresolved. His mother, Kym Straton, said after the arraignment that Matthew "had his problems with his addictions" and had seen a mental health specialist, but it was not Lewek.

"Matt has never mentioned this man to me at all," said Kym Straton, who was at the arraignment with a number of relatives. " ... How he met this man I have no idea."

Matthew's mother said the court appearance left her "a little sickened (but) I'm happy this part of my nightmare is over."

Left unanswered for now is just how Straton died. A cause of death has not been determined, and the autopsy continues, Wolford said.

The body was decomposed, slowing the identification from the Monroe County medical examiner for almost 24 hours.

According to police allegations, Straton has been dead since late October. Lewek said he hid the body between 2 and 3 a.m. on Oct. 29, police allege.

His mother said that Matthew was an avid sports fans, a lover of the New York Yankees and Washington Redskins, who has had difficulty since a back surgery about a year ago.

"He always had a smile on his face," she said. "He always made you laugh.

Wolford said she asked for the expensive bail because Lewek "is an extreme flight risk."

The search of his house led police to believe that he has access to at least $500,000, she said. He is multilingual and travels internationally, she said.

Lewek agreed that, if he does post bail, he will surrender his passport.

Lewek did have a brush with law enforcement in 2001, when he was charged with three driving-related misdemeanors in Arizona, including drunken driving. The three charges were dismissed, records show.

He is board certified in addiction psychiatry, forensic psychiatry, psychosomatic medicine and geriatric psychiatry.

Police were again searching Lewek's house and yard Friday. At a news conference Friday night, interim Chief Michael Ciminelli said no additional human remains were found at the location.

"It is a unique case ... with a person with unique means," Wolford said of Lewek after the arraignment.

GCRAIG@DemocratandChronicle.com

Twitter.com/gcraig1

Includes reporting by staff writers David Andreatta and Patti Singer.