CALHOUN FALLS, S.C. - A 30-year police veteran who was the police chief here has been fired after the details of a state investigation into whether the chief sexually assaulted a woman were released to a newspaper.

Chief T. "Billy" Haynie, 66, was fired over the weekend, Calhoun Falls Mayor Johnnie Waller said Monday, adding that the chief was asked to resign by last Friday but did not.

Haynie's termination came less than a week after the State Law Enforcement Division released details of its investigation into whether the chief sexually assaulted Frances Lewis, a 68-year-old police officer's widow, in October 2002.

SLED's evidence included sworn statements by Town Administrator Deborah Parks claiming she had been continually harassed by the chief and a statement from town resident Patricia Wells, claiming the chief tried to grope her when she was working as an assistant manager at a convenience store.

About a year after the SLED began investigating, state Attorney General Henry McMaster refused to charge Haynie, deciding the investigation failed "to show beyond a reasonable doubt a violation of criminal statutes," spokesman Trey Walker has said.

Even though there were no charges, town attorney William Foster advised Waller and the Town Council to ask for the chief's resignation last week, Waller said in a statement.

Haynie nor his attorney, Thomas Hite, could be reached Monday.

SLED released the results of its investigation late last month in response to a Freedom of Information Act request from the Anderson Independent-Mail.

Information from: Anderson Independent-Mail