Raleigh County Prosecuting Attorney Ben Hatfield placed on administrative leave by Raleigh County Commission

BECKLEY, WV ( WVNS ) — Raleigh County Prosecuting Attorney Benjamin Hatfield has been placed on administrative leave.

59News confirmed Ben Hatfield, the current Prosecuting Attorney for Raleigh County, was placed on administrative leave pending the results of an investigation.

The investigation was requested on August 22, 2024, by the Commission into alleged “inappropriate conduct” by Hatfield. The investigation was requested by the Commission after further information on the allegations were reportedly provided by three separate Raleigh County Circuit Judges.

Details remain limited at this time. 59News has reached out the County Commission with no comments available.

Additionally, separate from the County Commission’s decision, 59News has obtained documents from Bradford & Gray PLLC, a Beckley law firm, that said they intend to file a Civil Complaint against Hatfield relating to claims of, “a hostile work environment, gender-based discrimination, inappropriate harassment, damage to reputation, deprivation of civil rights to equal protection, and fundamental fairness arising as a direct result of the employment and supervision of Benjamin Hatfield as the Raleigh County Prosecuting Attorney.”

59News has reached out to Ben Hatfield for comment. He said he was not aware of the Commission’s decision to place him on administrative leave or the potential civil complaints.

Stick with 59News as this story continues to develop.

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