Laurens County Sheriff admits affair, denies discrimination : News : MidlandsConnect.com

Laurens County Sheriff admits affair, denies discrimination

Posted: 06.02.2011 at 8:24 AM

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Read more: Local, State, Crime, News, Ricky Chastain, Laurens County, Sheriff Department, Sheriff, Co Worker, Affair

Ricky Chastain / laurenssheriff.org

LAURENS, S.C. (WACH, WHNS) -- Laurens County Sheriff Ricky Chastain admitted Wednesday that he had an affair with a co-worker, but said he did not discriminate against her.

"Last year, I told my wife that I had an affair with an employee here at the office," Chastain said.

Chastain said that employee, who FOX Carolina has opted not to identify, has filed a complaint that accuses him of discrimination surrounding her employment at the sheriff's office. He said the woman quit last year. He said the woman is also accusing him of using his power to force her out.

"It was during the time that I had informed her that I was going to tell my wife what was going on, and during that time (she) came in one day and she quit," Chastain said. "There was nothing as far as my position used when she decided to quit. I made a bad personal choice. I've made several and I'll probably make bad choices again. As far as using some type of power to get rid of an employee, that has never happened and will never happen."

Chastain said he wanted to talk to the media about the affair because the rumors surrounding the tryst were getting out of hand.

"I owe the people of Laurens County an apology," Chastain said. "I owe the staff at the Laurens County Sheriff's Office an apology. (I apologize to) the entire county personnel for any shame or unwanted attention this seems to be gathering that I brought to them. Regardless of me, this is a great county."

Chastain said he is confident the allegations of discrimination are unfounded. He said his main priority is his family.

"The Lord saw fit to let me keep the most important thing in my life and that was my family," Chastain said.

Chastain said he has not been filed with any type of paperwork regarding the complaint.

When asked about the complaint the woman's attorney had no comment.

(WHNS and FoxCarolina.com contributed to this report.)

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