In 2009, the Texas Medical Board informed Dr. Arafiles of an anonymous complaint filed by two nurses who worked at Winkler County Memorial Hospital in Kermit, Texas. In the complaint, the nurses accused Dr. Arafiles of using herbal remedies and utilizing hospital supplies to perform procedures at his home. Dr. Arafiles consequently asked the Winkler County sheriff, Robert Roberts, Jr., to investigate who filed the complaint.
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Mr. Roberts obtained a copy of the confidential complaint, which allowed him to identify the nurses. Prosecutors added Mr. Roberts obtained a search warrant to gain access to the nurses’ personal computers to confirm they had penned the complaint. After they were identified, the nurses were fired from their positions and were indicted on felony charges of misuse of official information. Eventually, the charges against one nurse were dropped while the other nurse stood trial and was found not guilty.
Mr. Roberts was eventually sentenced to 400 days in jail and four years probation. Scott Tidwell, the attorney who prosecuted the nurse who stood trial, and Stan Wiley, former administrator of Winkler County Memorial Hospital, have also been sentenced to jail time.
In addition to his two-month sentence, Dr. Arafiles will spend five years on probation and surrender his medical license.
Related Articles on Retaliation Lawsuits:
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New Texas Law Bans Anonymous Complaints About Physicians
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