The Berkeley (West Virginia) County Council has settled a lawsuit that alleged a former sheriff’s deputy sexually abused a woman.
The council will pay $25,000 to settle the lawsuit filed by Donna K. Pulse.
Council attorney Norwood Bentley III told The Herald-Mail of Hagerstown, Md., that the payment will be paid by the county’s insurance provider for such claims.
Former deputy P. Shannon Layne was acquitted of felony sexual abuse charges in August 2011.
Bentley said Layne agreed as part of the settlement to dismiss all of his counterclaims against Pulse.
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