Charles Hatfield, the former CEO of Williamson Memorial Hospital, has been sentenced to five years of federal probation. He was also ordered to pay $34,872.62 in restitution and a $20,000 fine for theft or bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds. Hatfield admitted to stealing $34,872.62 from the hospital for personal use without authorization during his tenure as CEO.

Court documents reveal that Hatfield became interim CEO in September 2018 and was later made permanent until September 2019 when he was relieved of his duties. The hospital filed for bankruptcy on October 21, 2019.

Hatfield's offenses included directing $9,197.62 in hospital funds on May 16, 2019, to purchase a cashier’s check used to settle personal real estate obligations in Florida. On September 25, 2019, he transferred $25,675 in hospital funds to Mid Mountain Properties—a company he owned—without board authorization.

He resigned as mayor of Williamson on May 3, 2024, due to these offenses.

United States Attorney Will Thompson praised the investigative work by various agencies including the FBI and West Virginia State Police-Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI). "Today’s sentence provides a general deterrence for abusing a position of trust," said Thompson.

The sentence was imposed by United States District Judge Irene C. Berger.