RALEIGH COUNTY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – All criminal charges against former Raleigh County Prosecuting Attorney Benjamin Hatfield have been dismissed, according to Hatfield’s attorney, Danny Schwaber.
Magistrates in both Raleigh and Kanawha counties have dropped the charges in recent weeks.
In Raleigh County, Hatfield faced multiple charges that have since been dismissed. A charge of violation of a protective order was dismissed on September 15, 2025, by Magistrate Greg Tanner.
A separate charge of violating a domestic violence protective order, filed June 21, 2025, was dismissed on September 12, 2025, by Magistrate Matthew Epling.
Another charge, filed August 25, 2025, for intimidation of and retaliation against public officers and witnesses, was also dismissed on September 12, 2025, by Magistrate Paul Blume.
In Kanawha County, a charge of violation of a protective order was dismissed on October 15, 2025, by Magistrate Joe L. Shelton.
The charges in all four criminal cases stemmed from allegations made by a person Hatfield was allegedly romantically involved with.
Despite the dismissals, multiple civil cases remain pending against Hatfield regarding alleged misconduct while he served as Raleigh County Prosecuting Attorney.
Hatfield’s attorney, Danny Schwaber, released the following statement:
“After months of Mr. Hatfield remaining quiet despite being smeared with unproven and scandalous allegations, all four criminal cases against him have been dismissed. On September 12, the State joined Mr. Hatfield in filing three agreed orders to dismiss all Raleigh County criminal cases against him. The agreed orders included sweeping acknowledgments. For instance, the State pointed to ‘significant exculpatory material,’ agreed that ‘no probable cause’ supported the felony charge, and that his conduct ‘did not constitute a crime.’ And in dismissing a misdemeanor, the State explained that the ‘objective evidence does not support the allegations in the Complaint,’ and Mr. Hatfield did not commit a crime. Finally, after an October 15 hearing, a Kanawha County Magistrate dismissed the final charge due to a lack of probable cause. Mr. Hatfield has tried to maintain his privacy to protect his family as he worked to exonerate himself without media fanfare. With the charges now dismissed, he can finally publicly defend himself against the false and harmful allegations against him in these cases. He looks forward to continuing to clear his name.”
