Psychiatric Hospital Employee Accused Of Having Sexual Contact With 15-Year-Old Patient

As reported by WCHS TV channel 8

West Virginia State Police said an employee of a psychiatric hospital in Morgantown is accused of having sexual contact with a 15-year-old male patient.

Katie Miller, 22, of Smithfield, Pa., was arrested Friday on two counts of sexual abuse of a child by a person of trust, according to a news release from the State Police.

The arrest stems from an investigation that began in late December 2014. The alleged abuse was reported by hospital officials.

During the course of the investigation, Sgt. A.W. Scott of the Crimes Against Children developed probable cause to arrest Miller. She was arraigned in Monongalia County Magistrate Court and released on a $10,000 cash or surety bond.

Psychiatrist reprimanded unprofessional and unethical conduct

Report from the Charleston Gazette, out of West Virginia

A South Charleston psychiatrist has been publicly reprimanded by the state Board of Medicine and placed on probation for three years after he allegedly carried on an inappropriate personal relationship with a patient through telephone conversations, e-mail and text messages.

Dr. Russ Voltin, who also works as co-medical director of the forensic evaluation unit at South Central Regional Jail, denied any sexual contact with the patient.

Voltin said the former patient concealed her identity from him, according to a consent order filed last week by the medical board.

The patient, whose name was not disclosed, alleged the online relationship with Voltin lasted from 2004 to 2007. The Board of Medicine started investigating the complaint in March 2007.

The board concluded that Voltin took part in "unprofessional and unethical conduct." Medical board members voted to suspend Voltin's license for three years, but stayed the decision, allowing Voltin to continue to practice while on probation.

Voltin also was directed to see a board-approved psychotherapist who must submit reports on Voltin's mental health every four months.

In addition, the medical board ordered Voltin to attend medical ethics classes. The board vowed to revoke Voltin's license if he takes part in inappropriate contact with patients during the next three years.

Voltin, who became a state-licensed psychiatrist in 1989, works at PsyCare Inc. in South Charleston.

He serves as regional coordinator for forensic psychiatry and assistant professor at the West Virginia University School of Medicine.

Voltin, 45, also has been a guest lecturer at WVU's law school. He was director of Thomas Memorial Hospital's psychiatric unit from 1994 to 2001.

Voltin did not return phone messages left at his South Charleston office Wednesday.

Fake head shrinker to have head examined pending sentencing.

A followup to an odd story from over a year ago:

Fake Head Shrinker Sued for Leaving Mind Unshrunken, and Endangering a Life.

We recently received word that ex-ghost hunter Susan Crites was not only sued, but was charged with crimes, was been found guilty, and was set to be sentenced. But this has been put on hold pending a court order to have the fake head shrinker's head examined.

Here is the news story originally posted December 18th, 2007

The sentencing of Susan R. Crites, the former head of the now defunct Hedgesville-based West Virginia Society of Ghost Hunters, was postponed Monday after a judge ordered her to undergo a 60-day psychological evaluation.

Crites, 57, was convicted on three misdemeanor counts of practicing medicine without a license and five counts of practicing counseling without a license in September following a jury trial in Berkeley County Circuit Court. A separate but related charge of delivery of a controlled substance was later dismissed by the state.

Crites had originally been scheduled to be sentenced last Monday but it was continued because Crites’ then-attorney, Heidi Myers, was unable to attend because of a medical emergency.

The court’s order to have Crites undergo a 60-day psychological evaluation came as a surprise to both the prosecution and the defense, which was only made of aware of the evaluation order by Berkeley County Circuit Court Judge Gray Silver III on Monday morning.

“Note my objection on behalf of Miss Crites,” Myers told Silver.

Silver also granted a motion recently filed by Myers requesting she be allowed to withdraw from the case and a new lawyer be appointed to represent the local ghost hunter and published author. Myers filed the motion at the behest of Crites who recently decided to seek new representation.

“My services have been terminated,” Myers said.

Berkeley County Prosecutor Pamela Games-Neely argued that the evaluation and the appointment of a new attorney for Crites would only delay sentencing, further inconveniencing the victims in the case, but Silver supported an objection by Myers, who argued that Crites would need an attorney to be able to present arguments to the court during the sentencing phase.

“Miss Crites is requesting new counsel. I am concerned that the right to counsel is a constitutional right and sentencing is still a critical stage,” said Silver, adding appointing a new attorney for Crites would not delay sentencing since the court intended to order the 60-day evaluation anyway, something Silver said would aid the court in its sentencing.

Crites will now be represented by the Berkeley County Public Defenders’ Office. The earliest Crites might be forced to undergo the evaluation is three weeks. In the meantime, Silver told Crites her newly appointed attorney could present arguments to the court against the evaluation order if she wished.

After granting Myers’ motion to withdraw, Silver was later presented with a motion by Crites she said a friend helped her draft to continue sentencing. She was stopped by Silver, who indicated Crites should wait until her new attorney was appointed before attempting to present an argument before the court.

“We don’t want you putting yourself in a position where you say something that could possibly hurt your case,” Silver said.

No new sentencing date was scheduled Monday. For each of the three misdemeanor counts of practicing medicine without a license, Crites could face fines of as much as $10,000, imprisonment terms as long as 12 months, or both. For the five counts of offering counseling without a license, Crites stands to face fines as much as $500, imprisonment as long as six months, or both.

Actually the West Virgina Society of Ghost Hunters continues under new leadership, it seems. And to their credit they have a full webpage going over all of the gory details of the scandal.

Civil War-Era Mental Asylum for Sale, But No One Wants It

Officials are baffled as to why a former state insane asylum has not sold in 15 years, despite

• being located in central WV,
  
• costing $300k per year to heat,
  
• filled with asbestos,
  
• possibly haunted and
  
• used as paintball park by off-duty cops

Never mind the deal killer: Once used by psychiatrists.

As seen in the Washington Post

For a few years after the patients moved to a new hospital, the state kept the heat on. But with 15 miles of pipe and 921 windows, that cost $300,000 a year. Eventually, the state cut back to groundskeeping and security, for a continuing annual cost of about $100,000.

"The biggest thing for me is that the property is not living up to its highest, best use," Hildreth said. "If we could open the doors and put it in the private sector, it could be something."

There have been attempts.

Local residents offered tours and made a little headway, fixing the clock tower, rebuilding the fountain in front of the main entry and cleaning up the mess from someone's paintball battle. But their pockets weren't deep enough, and the tours were halted in 2004 for safety reasons.

Two Tennessee developers hoped to create a hotel and convention center, but they couldn't raise $88 million for renovations.

Weston native Lowell Davis proposed a $300 million hotel and casino and persuaded Lewis County voters to pass a symbolic referendum allowing the casino, but the state rejected his plan.

If location counts, the hospital has appeal: It's two hours south of Pittsburgh and 4 1/2 hours west of Baltimore.

But some potential problems _ including piles of cancer-causing asbestos and other possible environmental hazards _ worry prospective bidders more than the ghosts that reportedly inhabit the dark and dusty hallways.

The buyer will bear those burdens with no financial help from the state. The state says it's not required to disclose the extent of possible contamination, other than to acknowledge hazardous materials "may exist in or on the property."

One developer, David Wamsley of Williamstown, toured the hospital with plans to raise $20 million for a project with commercial and residential elements. Three hours later, he figured he'd need 10 times that amount _ and 10 to 15 years to turn a profit.

Hildreth doubts environmental concerns will deter serious bidders.

What could be a problem is opposition by people like former mayor Jon Tucci, who argues that city officials should have a say on the future of a facility that once generated $90,000 a year in tax revenue.

"There has to be some kind of an anchor, an economic base to replace what this was," Tucci said. "This was the fulcrum of our community for 150 years."

Morgantown contractor Joe Jordan argues that such decisions should be left to the developer.

"If the city of Weston is going to legislate what you're gonna do with it, well hell, they may as well just buy it," he said