Former convicted felon on City of Jackson payroll - MSNewsNow.com - Jackson, MS

Former convicted felon on City of Jackson payroll

A concerned Three On Your Side viewer asked us to check a new face on the City of Jackson's payroll.

Jackson City Councilman and mayoral candidate Frank Bluntson is defending his hiring of a former convicted felon.

Robert Earl Henderson Jr., is now on the city payroll as a paid intern for the councilman. Henderson has a long list of arrests including possession of cocaine and auto theft in 1990.

Bluntson said Thursday Henderson is not a full time employee.

"Yes 18 hours a week," said Bluntson. "You know it's not a full-time position."

"He does whatever is necessary for him to do," Bluntson added. "He goes out. Somebody calls, you got grass this and that. He'll go out and check on it come back and get the administrator there."

Bluntson pointed out that Henderson was granted a pardon by former Gov. Haley Barbour.

Henderson, known as 'Too Sweet' also worked for the late Jackson Mayor Frank Melton.

The Ward 4 councilman says the former felon works as a volunteer on his mayoral campaign.

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