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BUFFALO, N.Y. - How can you be a hero firefighter and a level one sex offender all at the same time? One of Buffalo's bravest faces a felony charge.


Buffalo Fire Commissioner Garnell Whitfield said, "Will Holliday is a great firefighter. He's an exemplary employee of the fire department. He has served the residents of this community and this department with distinction throughout his career."

38-year-old firefighter Willie Holliday is an award-winning firefighter who has been honored for going above and beyond the call of duty to save peoples' lives. But now there's a warrant for his arrest.

"He's not ducking anyone. He's coming to work everyday," argued Whitfield.

Holliday tells News 4 he was selling firefighter calendars at a local mall and met a girl, with whom he had sex. He was convicted of a misdemeanor and had to register as a level one sex offender. The warrant is a felony charge for failing to re-register as a sex offender every year.

Whitfield explained, "Even though there has a been a warrant out for Holliday's arrest for three years, the police department didn't know he was a firefighter and the fire department didn't know there was a warrant. The Buffalo Fire Department was never notified of a warrant for member of this department. Had we been notified, then we would've made that member aware of that."

Holliday is a former Marine and has worked for the fire department for seven years. But he apparently failed to notify the sex offenders registry when he changed address.

"Right now that's between the courts and firefighter Holliday. We'll wait to see what happens with the charges," said Whitfield.

Holliday didn't go on camera at the advice of his attorney. The case now goes to a grand jury.

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