Delegates want official charged with domestic violence fired

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Democrats in the West Virginia House of Delegates are calling for the ouster of a state official who has been charged with battery against his ex-wife.

Several delegates on Monday issued a statement demanding that Division of Natural Resources Director Stephen S. McDaniel be terminated.

The Charleston Gazette-Mail reported last week that McDaniel was charged with misdemeanor battery for an April 6 incident in Florida. The woman told police she feared that McDaniel was going to kill her during an argument.

Gov. Jim Justice's general counsel says that McDaniel offered to resign but the governor didn't feel that was necessary based on the way events were explained.

McDaniel entered into a deferred prosecution agreement, in which he neither declared his innocence nor pleaded guilty.