Raleigh County Prosecuting Attorney Ben Hatfield on leave pending investigation

BECKLEY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Raleigh County Prosecuting Attorney Ben Hatfield is on leave.

Raleigh County President Greg Duckworth tells Lootpress that “Raleigh County Prosecutor Ben Hatfield has been placed on leave until the pending investigations have been completed.”

Last Thursday , the Raleigh County Commission requested an investigation by the West Virginia Commission on Special Investigations into allegations against Raleigh County Prosecuting Attorney Ben Hatfield following a Special Session meeting.

The development follows the emergence of information provided to Raleigh County Commission members from three current Raleigh County Circuit Court Judges with regard to allegations against Raleigh County Prosecuting Attorney Benjamin Hatfield of inappropriate conduct.

“The Raleigh County Commission will request the West Virginia Commission on Special Investigations to initiate an investigation into these allegations and inform the Commission of their findings and recommendations,” said the commission in a statement read aloud by Raleigh County Commission President Greg Duckworth following the Executive Session. “There will be no additional statements by the Raleigh County Commission or Raleigh County Commissioners until the investigation has been completed.”

According to West Virginia law, The County Commission does not have the authority to suspend a person in this role, despite what other local media outlets are reporting.

Stay with Lootpress for further updates on this story.