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Ascend Wellness Holdings CEO and Chairman Abner Kurtin was arrested Sept. 6 on a misdemeanor battery charge in Southern Florida, according to the Miami-Dade County Clerk of the Courts.
Kurtin, 55, who founded the New York-based multistate operator, was released on a $1,500 bond and issued a stay-away order with pretrial conditional victim contact allowed, according to the Miami-Dade Clerk.
Ascend issued a public statement Tuesday evening acknowledging the incident.
“The company is aware of allegations against CEO, Chairman, and Founder Abner Kurtin regarding a domestic-related misdemeanor,” Ascend officials said in the release. “The independent members of the company’s Board of Directors, through its Compensation and Corporate Governance Committee, are conducting an investigation of the matter with the assistance of independent legal counsel, Goodwin Procter, LLP.”
Abner’s arraignment hearing is scheduled for Sept. 30, according to the Miami-Dade Clerk.
“While the company cannot comment on an active investigation, it is treating this matter with the utmost seriousness and will continue to evaluate appropriate steps as more information becomes available,” Ascend officials said. “The independent members of the board are keenly attuned to the company, its shareholders, and employees, and the management team is focused on ensuring AWH continues to operate effectively during this time.”
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