By TRICIA NEAL, CJ Staff Writer
Somerset — Somerset EMS Chief James Latham describes EMT Rodney James Dobies as an outstanding employee.
“He was polite to a fault, a go-getter, a hard worker,” he said.
“This just doesn’t add up to me.”
Latham was as surprised as anyone to learn last week that Dobies, 42, who has worked part time — and then full time — for the Somerset EMS Department for the last six years, was arrested and charged with sexual abuse of his stepdaughter. Sources say the girl was just nine years old.
“Out of all the employees I’ve had here, he would be the dead last one I would have expected this from,” Latham said.
“I hate it so bad. ... He was an outstanding employee, squeaky clean. ... He was a good friend as well. I’m just deeply disappointed and shocked. ... My heart goes out to the whole family.”
The McCreary County Sheriff’s Department and the Kentucky State Police responded to Dobies’ Pine Knot residence shortly before midnight on June 28. The girl’s mother had found Dobies “engaged in physical contact” with his stepdaughter, according to a criminal complaint filed by KSP Detective Billy Correll.
Dobies was not at home when authorities arrived, but he was located two days later at a Rattlesnake Ridge residence. He was taken into custody without incident and was lodged in the McCreary County Jail under a $100,000 cash bond.
Dobies has been charged with one count of first-degree sexual abuse against a victim under the age of 12. If he is convicted of the Class C felony, he could face five to 10 years in prison. More charges may be pending.
Latham said Dobies did not show up for work last week.
“He was scheduled to work last week,” Latham said.
“He missed three days, and provided no notification to his supervisor. According to our policy manual, after three days, we assume they’ve quit.”
Somerset City Attorney Carrie Wiese confirmed that Dobies had been employed full time with the city’s EMS Department, and said he has been “suspended indefinitely without pay or benefits pending outcome of the investigation.”
Dobies also worked part time for the McCreary County EMS Department, but, according to McCreary Judge-executive Blaine Phillips, he had worked very little there in the last six months. He has also been suspended without pay from the McCreary County EMS.
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Janie Slaven of the McCreary County Record contributed to this story.
