SLED Investigating Missing Calhoun Falls Fines

State police are investigating whether an Abbeville County town has months' worth of missing fines.

The Index-Journal of Greenwood reports (http://bit.ly/Yx4kdk ) that Calhoun Falls officials asked the State Law Enforcement Division to investigate potential wrongdoing or sloppy accounting practices by town employees. Mayor Johnnie Waller said SLED officers will arrive Monday to collect documents.

According to records reviewed by the newspaper, the town failed to file with the state 13 monthly reports on fines the town collected, starting in March 2012. Municipalities are supposed to split court and police fines with the state. The unfiled reports have held up town audits and led to the state treasurer's office withholding more than $250,000 in state money from the town.

That's a large chunk of the small town's budget.