Smyth County doctor accused of grooming underage hospital worker

FBI agents arrested a Smyth County Community Hospital doctor after an investigation into an alleged relationship between him and an underage medical worker.

Prosecutors said Michael Kevin Smith, 68, of Sugar Grove groomed the victim beginning in 2023 when they initially met and she was a 16-year-old.

The relationship turned sexual in 2024 including the juvenile and Smith exchanging nude photos via text message, according to the report, while Smith told the victim to keep the relationship a secret.

Investigators counted more than 19,000 text messages between the doctor and the child, according to the criminal complaint.

The Marion Police Department assisted the FBI in the investigation.