The criminal complaint alleges the ex-exec sent harassing messages after he was placed on leave in February.
The former top executive of Mon Health System in Morgantown, West Virginia, has been charged with misdemeanor harassment for messages he allegedly sent to his successor.
After resigning in March from his post as the system's president and CEO, Darryl Duncan sent several emails designed to harass the person who would replace him, according to a criminal complaint acquired by HealthLeaders Media.
The complaint, which is signed by a detective with the Monongalia County Sheriff's Office, further alleges that Duncan sent harassing mail to the employer and to his coworkers' homes and places of worship.
The complaint does not include any detail on the substance of Duncan's messages, nor does it specify the names of the targets of his alleged harassment. If convicted, he could face a $1,000 fine and up to six months in jail, as The Dominion Post reported last week. Duncan pleaded not guilty.
A spokesperson for the health system told the Post that the organization is aware of the allegations.
"We will fully cooperate as law enforcement investigates these claims, but it would not be appropriate for us to comment further at this time,” the spokesperson told the Post.
- February 6: More than two dozen physicians with the system's Mon Health Medical Center signed a letter to the board, calling on Duncan to resign, as the Post reported.
- February 7: Duncan was placed on leave, and Chief Operating Officer Dottie Oakes took over as CEO on an interim basis, as The Associated Press reported.
- March 19: Duncan officially resigned from his post. Oakes also resigned in late March.
- April 5: Thomas Senker takes over as interim CEO of Mon Health System and Mon Health Medical Center, as the AP reported.
The criminal complaint does not specify the dates on which Duncan's alleged harassment took place.
Duncan has been arrested, as WBOY's Paige Hopkins reported Friday.
Steven Porter is an associate content manager and Strategy editor for HealthLeaders, a Simplify Compliance brand.