DeSoto Co. community renews calls for school board member’s resignation, saying she broke public trust

DESOTO COUNTY, Miss. (WMC) - Parents and community members continue to pressure Desoto County School Board member Michele Henley to resign.

The calls for her to go are over the character letter she wrote on behalf of former youth pastor Lindsey Whiteside, who pleaded guilty to sex crimes against a minor.

Two speakers at Thursday night’s school board meeting spoke about the harm to public trust with Henley still on the board.

Pam Pegram, the grandmother of Whiteside’s victim, addressed Henley directly, asking her to explain why she won’t take back her support or step down.

“I ask you again to resign,” Pegram said. “You have betrayed the trust of the community, you have abused your authority, and you have forsaken the children you are elected to protect.”

Henley’s only comment to Pegram was that she was not going to respond.

The other school board members removed Henley as board president and voted to support a resolution urging Mississippi lawmakers to bring back a bill allowing the removal of board members.

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