BECKLEY, W.Va. — Raleigh County Prosecutor Ben Hatfield says his decision to voluntarily step away from his office is over.
Hatfield returned to work Thursday morning.
Hatfield was named in a domestic violence petition but now he says that’s been dismissed. He said in a statement that he’s cooperated with the county commission but now it’s time to fulfill his duties as the elected prosecutor.
“Now that an opportunity has been given for persons to come forward with complaints without my presence impeding them, and the Commission has had time to review those complaints and make their own findings without my influence, it is time for me to resume my duties as the Chief Law Enforcement Officer of Raleigh County,” Hatfield said.
The county commission which asked the state legislature’s Committee on Special Investigations to review claims against Hatfield after hearing from three Raleigh County circuit judges said Hatfield is an elected official and can return to work. The commission said in a statement it will continue to cooperate with any and all investigations.
“Many of the issues brought forward to the Raleigh County Commission during the past few weeks are clearly personnel issues and potential legal issues that the Raleigh County Commission or the Raleigh County commissioners cannot discuss at this time,” the statement said.
The woman who filed the initial DV petition against Hatfield which was dismissed filed a second petition earlier this week, according to a report in the Beckley Register Herald.
Hatfield, 39, is in his first term as prosecutor. He’s running unopposed in the November General Election.