An Alma doctor facing federal charges that he illegally dispensed a controlled narcotic cough syrup has not had staff privileges at Bacon County Hospital or its health system, administrators said Thursday.

William Morris Williams, who practices family medicine, is scheduled to be arraigned Jan. 25 in U.S. District Court on two counts of illegally dispensing promethazine/codeine syrup, a controlled substance. He provided the syrup to a person identified only by the initials D.H. on Nov. 10 and 11 of 2009, federal prosecutors charge in a complaint filed Dec. 28.

Neither Williams nor his lawyer, Daniel Snipes, could be reached for comment. Prosecutors declined comment, citing federal court rules forbidding lawyers from discussing cases outside of court.

Cindy R. Turner, chief executive of the health system, told the Times-Union that Williams has not been associated with its hospital for years, although state medical licensing board records show he has staff privileges there.

"According to our records, even though he still had privileges until March of 2010, when they expired, he has not been associated with the health system since July of 2008," Turner said.

Officials with the Georgia Composite State Board of Medical Examiners, which met Thursday, could not be reached for comment about the conflicting records, or status of Williams' license.

teresa.stepzinski@jacksonville.com, (912) 264-0405