LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Jamol Jones' tenure as the Arkansas parole board chairman lasted only one week as the 35-year-old Benton native resigned on Friday, the governor's office confirmed.
"Effective today, February 2, 2024, I am resigning from the Post Prison Transfer Board," Jones said. "It has been the honor of my life to serve the people of Arkansas in this capacity. I am grateful to the Sanders administration for this opportunity, but this decision is being made in the best interest of me and my family."
Jones was facing questions over his qualifications after documents revealed he was fired from the Benton Police Department in 2018 for lying about having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl.
According to the investigative files, the minor approached Jones at the gym, initiated the relationship and deceived Jones about her age.
When word of the affair reached Jones' superiors in the department, transcripts show he initially lied about the nature of the relationship.
The detective who investigated the criminal complaint said the teen's mother did not want to see the then-married, 29-year-old Jones "go to jail" over her daughter's actions. However, files show she understood the likelihood that Jones would need to be fired.
Days later, because of his initial attempts to lie and downplay what happened, Jones was fired for violating department policies. Although the criminal file went to prosecutors, there's no record of any charges being filed, and Jones kept his law enforcement commission.
On Friday, after the revelations surfaced, Jones admitted he made a mistake when he engaged in a sexual relationship with a teenage girl, but said he's proud of his law enforcement and military service.
Jones served in the Arkansas National Guard from 2009 to 2011 with an honorable discharge. After being fired from Benton police, Jones became a police officer with the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders appointed Jones to chairman of the state Post-Prison Transfer Board (PPTB) on Jan. 26, all while in the middle of a legal dispute over expansion and control of the prison system.
"The Governor appreciates Mr. Jones' service and wishes him and his family well," Governor's Spokesperson Alexa Henning said. "Her priority remains the safety and security of all Arkansans."
Jones was supposed to replace John Felts, who will remain on the PPTB with a term scheduled to end in 2026.
The chair of that panel is automatically a member of the Board of Corrections, thrusting Jones into the middle of a political and legal dispute over who has the final say over the state's prisons.
The fight over how quickly to expand prison space prompted two lawsuits and the firing of Joe Profiri, the governor's choice for secretary of corrections.