BOSTON—A paralegal with the Massachusetts Department of Corrections has been suspended with pay after allegedly sending derogatory and obscene e-mails to the head of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.

Mark Roberts is accused by MBTA General Manager Daniel Grabauskas of sending about a dozen e-mails over a seven-month period complaining about poor commuter rail service.

Grabauskas told the Boston Herald the e-mails were “ugly and hateful” and used anti-gay epithets. Grabauskas is gay.

Grabauskas says Roberts sent him a letter of apology but he was never told that Roberts was suspended.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Corrections says Roberts faces disciplinary action if the facts of the case hold up after an investigation. Roberts declined comment to the Herald.