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Huntington doctor faces rape, battery charges

HUNTINGTON, Ind. (WANE) – A physician practicing in Huntington faces charges of rape, sexual battery, and battery following an investigation into allegations made by a former employee.

The charges against Dr. John Mathew of the Huntington Medical Group, located at 1601 North Jefferson Street, were filed on Friday according to court documents. He was taken into custody and is currently out on bond.

“It’s sick,” Huntington resident Dana Taylor said.

Those documents indicate the alleged criminal activity took place on multiple occasions starting in July of 2014, about eight months after the employee had started working for Dr. Mathew.

The investigation began on January 21, 2016, a day after one of the alleged incidents occurred, when an officer with the Huntington Police Department interviewed the alleged victim.

Through the course of the investigation, which involved interviews with multiple employees, it was noted several times that Dr. Mathew had a reputation as being “touchy, feely” and that some employees had also reported inappropriate behavior on the part of Dr. Mathew.

“He was my mom’s doctor and my aunt’s doctor,” Teresa Caley said. “You don’t know who you can trust anymore. You really don’t”

A doctor who had worked with Dr. Mathew from 2002 to 2013 was also interviewed and told investigators that she was aware of an alleged incident of inappropriate behavior between doctor Mathew and one of his employees.

Another former employee also claimed Dr. Mathew had her perform the duties of a nurse, even though she had been hired as a secretary.  That person also claimed Dr. Mathew billed anywhere between five and eight patients that he had not actually seen.

Dr. Mathew faces felony charges of rape and sexual battery as well as two misdemeanor counts of battery.

People in the community were shocked and outraged when they heard the allegations.

“That’s horrible. Nobody should have to worry about going to the doctor. That’s one of the places you should feel safe and it should never be an issue.”

“I just hope he gets what’s coming to him,” Brian Shaffer said.

His medical license is active, according to the Indiana Medical Licensing Board website.

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