Stunning revelations have unfolded recently in the state of Arkansas. In an unexpected turn of events, Jamol Jones, a member of the Arkansas Parole Board, submitted his resignation. This event has sent ripples throughout the state’s justice system. Let’s delve into the reasons behind this abrupt decision and examine its impact. 

Jones was just appointed to Post-Prison Transfer Board Chairman by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders less than a week ago.  With the appointment ha also held a position on the Board of Corrections.  The resignation leaves a vacany on both governing boards. 

There is record of Jones losing his job at the Benton Police Department just a few months after graduating from the police academy. He was 29 at the time and admitted lying to his superiors after a complaint was made about a relationship with a teenage girl, according to an internal investigation report. 

Diving Into the Past

In 2018, Benton law enforcement officials began scrutinizing Jones following a tip-off to the Saline County sheriff’s office. The accusation centered around a sexual relationship between Jones and a 17-year-old girl he had become acquainted with at a local gym.

Starting off, Jones gave the police a version of events that limited their interactions to conversations. However, as evidence mounted and the girl’s age became a focal point of the investigation, Jones confessed to having oral sex and eventually acknowledged they had had sexual intercourse, according to an internal report. 

Interestingly, the internal investigation unveiled that Jones had initially lied to investigators not just once but twice, and refused to grant permission for the examination of his phone, a document revealed. 

While the individual who lodged the complaint alleged the girl had informed Jones about her actual age, Jones stuck to his claim that she had presented herself as 18 years old. Meanwhile, the teen could not convincingly remember whether she had revealed her true age to Jones or not. 

A revealing moment in the investigator’s report documented a pause in the interview with Jones, for discussions with various Benton captains. The pause was necessitated by the persistent assertion by Jones that he believed the girl was 18. 

Following the consultation, the report cited the investigator’s disbelief in Jones’s narrative, and his vague responses, along with the lack of evidence supporting his claim, were the deciding factors. as the investigator wrote “I did not believe him”. 

The girl’s mother, when approached by the police, admitted that her daughter could have lied about her age to encourage a relationship with Jones and added something crucial. While she didn’t wish for Jones to be incarcerated, she was of the opinion that he was unfit to continue serving as a police officer. 

Even though throughout the internal probe Jones kept insisting he wasn’t aware the girl was underage, he did accept that certain signs should have alerted him to her being a minor. Interestingly, a computer voice stress analyzer test designed to detect deceptive indicators in the subject’s voice came out in Jones’ favor.

While the decision was made by the prosecutors not to press charges against Jones, he did end up on what’s known as the “Brady list” — based on an internal communication. What is this list, you may wonder? It’s a registry that prosecutors maintain which includes the names of law enforcement officers who have a confirmed history of dishonesty. This list is then made accessible to defense lawyers in criminal suits where these officers might be involved. But, where does this unusual name come from? It’s derived from the landmark 1963 U.S. Supreme Court case, Brady v. Maryland, which established that any evidence that may vindicate a defendant must be presented to them.

Jones stated “I did not break any laws, no charges were filed, but I made a mistake. I’ve asked God and my families forgiveness for, and I take full responsibility for my actions,” he said. “I am proud of my service to our country and our state, and the support of my wife and family.”  Gov. Sanders office has yet to make a statement.