HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — A Putnam County doctor faced misdemeanor charges after an incident at the end of the Marshall University football game Saturday night in Huntington.
Campus police arrested Dr. Jason Patrick Smith, 42, of Hurricane on two counts of 3rd degree sexual abuse and a single count of possession of a controlled substance. All three charges are misdemeanors according to Marshall University Police Chief Jim Terry.
Police were called to the incident on the east concourse of Joan C. Edwards Stadium at the conclusion of the game.
“He inappropriately touched a juvenile female,” said Chief Terry. “It was very overt. He approached her, started talking to her, he inappropriately touched her and then fled the scene.”
Although there were numerous people exiting the stadium as police searched for Smith, Terry says they were able to quickly locate him not far from where the incident occurred.
“CSC workers with stadium security followed him, identified him, and then Huntington Police, my guys, and State Police found him,” said Terry. “We talked to the victim, ascertained what had happened and he was placed under arrest.”
Terry says another juvenile female was present and witnessed the incident. Police also found an oxycodone tablet in Smith’s pocket when he was searched after being placed in custody.
Smith is a doctor at Family Care hospitals and has a practice in Hurricane. WSAZ Television reports the CEO of the company tells them Smith is on leave right now and the practice is supporting him and his family while they deal with the situation.