Sheriff Affair Lawsuit

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) _ Laurens County’s sheriff says he has settled a lawsuit by a woman who claimed she was sexually harassed and forced out of her county job after refusing his request to have a second abortion. Sheriff Ricky Chastain said in a letter posted Sunday on his campaign website that the lawsuit has been settled for $35,000. Haley Manley sued Chastain last year, saying the sheriff drove her to Charlotte, N.C., in his county-issued car and paid for her to abort their child. Manley also said Chastain demanded she get a second abortion months later. Chastain admitted to an affair with Manley but denied forcing her to quit her job. Chastain says he opposes abortion and admits he shouldn’t have used his county-issued vehicle to drive the woman to the clinic.