LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — In a controversial move, Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders has appointed Jamol Jones as the chair of Arkansas’ parole board, despite his troubled past. Documents released by the Benton Police Department reveal that Jones was fired from the department in 2018 for lying to investigators about engaging in a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl.
According to the personnel file obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request, Jones initially denied any involvement with the minor, but later admitted to lying. While prosecutors did not pursue charges against him, Jones was terminated for violating the department’s code of ethics. The documents also showed that Jones claimed ignorance of the girl’s age, despite receiving Snapchat messages where she discussed attending classes.
Governor Sanders’ spokesperson, Alexa Henning, did not confirm whether the governor was aware of the investigation into Jones before appointing him. Henning stated, “Jamol bravely served our nation in the Army and protected his community as a police officer, providing him with the experience and knowledge to serve on the Post-Prison Transfer Board and the Board of Corrections.” Sanders had previously praised Jones’ law enforcement experience, which she believed made him a suitable candidate for the role.
Jones, an Army veteran who also served as a corporal assigned to patrol at training divisions at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, did not disclose whether he had discussed the investigation and his termination with the governor’s office prior to his appointment. In an email response, he expressed remorse for his actions and took responsibility for his mistake, stating, “I did not break any laws, no charges were filed, but I made a mistake I’ve asked God and my family’s forgiveness for.”
As the parole board chairman, Jones also serves as a member of the state Board of Corrections. This development comes amidst an ongoing power struggle between Governor Sanders and the panel over control of the state’s prison system. A state judge recently blocked a law signed by Sanders last year that aimed to limit the board’s authority to hire and fire the Secretary of Corrections. In response to the ruling, the board terminated Sanders’ appointee to the position.
The appointment of Jones as the chair of the parole board has sparked controversy and raised questions about the governor’s judgment. Critics argue that his past actions should have disqualified him from holding such a position of authority. However, supporters believe that his law enforcement background makes him well-suited for the role. The debate over the appointment adds to the ongoing tensions surrounding the state’s prison system and highlights the broader issues of ethics and accountability within Arkansas’ government.
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