Wed Sep 18 23:47:00 UTC 2024: ## Raleigh County Prosecuting Attorney Faces Second Domestic Violence Petition
**Beckley, WV** – Raleigh County Prosecuting Attorney Benjamin Hatfield is facing a second domestic violence petition, filed by the same woman who accused him in July. The new petition stems from an alleged incident at the YMCA Paul Cline Memorial Sports Complex in Beckley on Tuesday.
While Beckley Police were called to the complex, Chief Dean Bailey confirmed that the initial protective order wasn’t clear on whether the two parties could be in the same vicinity. Therefore, no violation of the order occurred. However, the new order specifically addresses this, making any repetition of Tuesday’s events a violation.
On Wednesday, Hatfield appeared in Raleigh County Family Court for a hearing on the initial domestic violence petition, which was ultimately dismissed by the petitioner. Her attorney, Timothy Lupardus, stated that she chose to drop the petition due to the potential for further trauma.
Despite the dismissal, Hatfield remains under investigation by the West Virginia Commission on Special Investigations and the FBI for the initial allegations. He has been on administrative leave since August 26th.
A hearing on the new domestic violence petition is scheduled for September 26th.
In addition to the criminal investigations, Hatfield is also facing two civil lawsuits. One alleges a hostile work environment in the prosecuting attorney’s office, while the other accuses him of soliciting sexual favors from a woman in exchange for dropping criminal charges.
Hatfield denies all allegations against him.
First Piper 