Developmental center investigation released

HELENA — A Montana investigation into allegations of sexual assault on mentally disabled patients at a state hospital found the hospital's chief investigator encouraged one woman to recant her accusation that a staffer raped her.

Montana Developmental Center Chief Investigator Keith Reeder also reportedly discouraged another employee from driving the woman to a hospital or taking any action that would bring outside law enforcement into the investigation.

Those details are included in a Department of Justice investigation released Wednesday into how the Montana Developmental Center handled the investigation following the 2010 report of patient sexual abuse. The report was made public after an advocacy group sued the Department of Justice for its release.

Reeder is still employed by the hospital. He tells The Associated Press that he "never covered up anything."