LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Legislators in Arkansas are now getting on board to call on the resignation of Board of Corrections member Alonza Jiles.
This comes after Governor Sanders called for his resignation last week.
Senate Majority Leader Blake Johnson, (R-Corning), sent a letter to Jiles and the Board of Corrections this week asking for his resignation. The letter explained that because of his involvement with several lawsuits, he should resign from his position.
"No matter where he is it has a reflection on the rest of the officials of the state of Arkansas," said Sen. Johnson.
On Thursday, several lawmakers stood together in the Capitol with the same message— they asked for Jiles to resign stating he lost public trust.
"We think he's simply not doing his job, because of the distractions from these lawsuits," said Senator Bart Hester, (R-Cave Springs).
The legislators are referring to five lawsuits that have been filed against Jiles and other senior officials at the now-closed Lord's Ranch, a religious-based youth treatment camp that opened in the 1970s.
The lawsuits claim Jiles knew about the abuse of the campers and did nothing about it.
"This new information [shows] he is no longer confirmable if he was asked today or if he was appointed today. He would never be appointed by a governor, number one, with these serious types of allegations of child abuse. And number two, he would never be confirmable by the Senate," said Sen. Hester.
Board Chairman Benny Magness responded to the legislators with the following message:
"When allegations of wrongdoing are made, every American is entitled to their day in court. Alonza Jiles is entitled to his day in court. Some are working overtime to deprive him of that right by trying to force him to resign from the Board of Corrections. The board has no authority to initiate the removal of a board member, nor should it. That process is set forth in the Arkansas Constitution.
Mr. Jiles has not had his day in court. When he does, if he is determined to be at fault, there should be consequences. If he is found not to be at fault, he should be able to move past it. Pastor Jiles has asserted that the allegations against him are false. Unless proven otherwise, he should not be punished as some are demanding."
We asked Jiles for a comment on the legislator's call for his resignation but he and his attorneys have yet to get back to us. However, he previously said that he was not aware of the alleged abuse nor did he take part in it.
He's also refusing to step down from his post citing the ongoing back and forth between the board and the governor that started several months ago.
Legislators said if Jiles was to be removed, the governor would have to start the process and lawmakers would vote on it. There's no word if Governor Sanders plans to take that action.