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WNC doctor, former Hospital Chief of Staff indicted and arrested on human trafficking, rape charges

Earlier this month,  The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office arrested Dr. Thomas Vann Clayton, 66, of Andrews on the charges of sexual contact or penetration under pretext of medical treatment. At the time of his arrest, Clayton was serving as the Chief of Staff at Erlanger Western Carolina Hospital. He was suspended following his arrest. Today, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office announced Clayton has been rearrested and charged with 16 addition felonies including three counts of Human Trafficking, four counts First-Degree Forcible Sexual offense, and nine counts of Sexual Contact or Penetration Under Pretext of Medical Treatment.

Clayton was arrested following a Cherokee Grand Jury issuing indictments for the additional charges. He was booked into the Cherokee County Detention Center and held on a $1,000,000 secured bond.

According to online records, Clayton graduated from the St Georges University School of Medicine, St Georges University School of Medicine in 1983. Clayton specialized in Family Medicine. Clayton reportedly has held a medical licenses in North Carolina since 2002. Before that, he was license in the state of Florida from 1994 to 2016, the state of Tennessee from 1986 to 1996 and right after college he was licensed to practice in Iowa from 1984 to 1986,

Law enforcement are continuing to investigate the incident and say no more details can be released at this time.

If you have information that could assist, they ask that you call 828-837-1344. You may also visit the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office at 577 Regal St., Murphy, North Carolina.

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