Scathing review: Comptroller reports nepotism, letting sex offender work with public in defunct Hay House

Serious deficiencies including nepotism and employing a convicted sex offender were published in a state Comptroller’s report following an investigation into the defunct Hay House in Kingsport.

The facility that assisted convicted felons in adjustments back into society employed the director’s son-in-law for four years and kept him on the job despite a guilty plea to attempted second-degree murder, according to the report. Other violations reported by the Comptroller staff included questionable background checks on employees, workers receiving accrued and used leave time despite policies that did not permit the practice, and ignoring the risk to workers and visitors at Hay House by hiring a convict who served jail time for sex crimes.

Hay House shut down last year shortly after its service contract with the Tennessee Department of Corrections was not renewed.

The findings will now be turned over to law enforcement and the Sullivan County District Attorney General’s office.

(PHOTO: GE)