Indiana Employee Shannon Martin Fired for Embezzlement; Hacks Dentist's Social Media
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NEW HAVEN, Ind. (WANE) - Shannon Martin, an ex-employee from Downie Family Dentistry, is accused of hacking into the dentistry's phones and sending messages to customers saying the dentistry was closing due to the dentist having a drug problem. The dentist's office says neither are true.
Shannon Martin was fired from Downie on Thursday over an embezzlement scandal, office personnel said, but before he left, he promised revenge, according to the dentist's office.
"He told us many times 'I'm going to take the ship down,'" said Downie Chief Operating Officer T.J. Wagner. "If you let go of me, I will take the ship down with me.'"
Shannon Martin had access to website and social media
Downie Family Dentistry said the employee had access to the website and its Facebook page and changed both to display the message "Unfortunately, due to the escalation of Dr. Downie's chronic substance abuse problem, from cocaine to methamphetamines, we've had to close our doors. If you believe you have been treated by Dr. William Downie while he was under the influence of a controlled substance, you should immediately call the Indiana Dental Association."
The Downie Dentistry's Facebook page has been taken down. Dr. William Downie called the accusation of him abusing drugs "ridiculous." He said the schedule for Friday is "slammed" and he does not plan to make any changes to business hours. In addition to the misinformation, Downie says the ex-employee stole a company vehicle. He says he went with police to recover the car. When he returned to the dentistry, he found out what else had been done. Downie and the rest of the dentistry's management staff are talking with police to determine the next steps that should be taken. Some customers are worried about what could happen next.
"We have, if anything, in the process of learning how to run a business, which again is quite a learning process and always is a learning process, learned about parameters in place that secure patient information to make sure that things like that are the topmost of importance," said Downie.
When the employee was let go over embezzlement accusations, Downie said the Dentistry was not planning to press charges because "everyone deserves a second chance." Now, the plan is to get the word out that Downie Family Dentistry is not closing and Dr. Downie has never used illegal drugs.
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Content retrieved from https://www.wane.com/news/local-news/ex-downie-dentistry-employee-spreads-fake-message/1975207162
Editor's note -- the ex-employee has been identified in other media coverage as Shannon Martin. A search of his background reveals several misdemeanor charges for assault and intimidation.