Jefferson County Judge Hank Wilkins has resigned after federal prosecutors say he admitted to taking $100,000 in bribes.
Judge Wilkins submitted a letter to Governor Asa Hutchinson's office that read:
"This letter shall serve as notice of my intent to resign the Office of County Judge of Jefferson County, Arkansas. My intention was to resign immediately. However, at the request of some members of the Jefferson County Quorum Court, my resignation shall be effective at 12:00 a.m., March 22, 2018. I am profoundly sorry that my own actions make this resignation necessary."
Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Mohlhenrich said Jefferson County Judge Henry "Hank" Wilkins IV admitted to taking bribes in a February 22 statement to the FBI. Wilkins hasn't been charged with any crime.
“For the clergy, that’s the part that we’re really disappointed in,” said Pine Bluff Faith Community Coalition president, Reverend Jesse Turner. “Funneling it through the church, that is really egregious, so I think the legacy of the Wilkins is probably over.
Both of Wilkin’s parents and an uncle served in the legislature before him.
“The legacy his dad and his mom built up, he totally destroyed that,” said Turner.
It was initially reported by The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette that Mohlhenrich referenced the incident Friday in Missouri federal court during the arraignment of indicted lobbyist Milton Russell Cranford on corruption charges.
Wilkins, a retired Methodist pastor, served in the Legislature from 2011 to 2015. During that time, authorities say Wilkins received money from indicted lobbyist Milton Russell Cranford in the form of donations to a Pine Bluff church where Wilkins was a pastor.
“I believe we can recover from this. I don’t think he can, but I believe the county can recover,” said Turner.
An interim county judge has not yet been named. On Monday night’s Quorum Court meeting, Justice of the Peace Herman Ginger is set to chair the meeting.