A prominent Cobb County doctor, Richard L. Hammonds, has been indicted on an aggravated stalking charge.

The indictment stems from Hammonds' allegedly ignoring a judicial order to stay away from his stepdaughter.

Hammonds, 73, was arrested and charged with misdemeanor battery during an argument with his wife at their Acworth home.

During the April 11 argument with Christine Hammonds, 49, his stepdaughter, Jessica Smith, tried to step in.

According to his arrest warrant on the battery charge, Hammonds grabbed Smith by the hair, threw her to the floor and hit her in the face.

Hammonds was taken into custody and later released on $20,000 bond. He was ordered not to contact his wife or Smith.

But on April 13, Hammonds allegedly called Smith, a violation of the terms of his release.

Aggravated stalking is a felony. Hammonds was indicted June 19 by a Cobb County grand jury.

The misdemeanor battery charge is pending in Cobb State Court.

Hammonds is the former chairman of the WellStar Health System board of trustees and a one-time adviser to former President Jimmy Carter.

When he was arrested, Hammonds was a member of the WellStar Cobb Hospital Regional Health Board. He took a leave of absence from the board effective April 24, said Amy Adams, a WellStar spokeswoman.

— Staff writer Tom Opdyke contributed to this story.