Students and alums of Jackson State University are in the middle of an embarrassing and frustrating moment.
Former JSU President William Bynum Jr., 57, has resigned from his position after he was among 17 people that were caught in a prostitution sting over the weekend in Mississippi.
Bynum Jr. was arrested and charged with procuring the services of a prostitute, false statement of identity, and possession of marijuana. The director of JSU’s art galleries, Shonda McCarthy, was also was charged with procuring services of a prostitute and possession of marijuana while operating a motor vehicle.
The former president was selected in 2017 and previously served as president of Mississippi Valley State University. He is married and is the father of six children.
JSU’s Board of Trustees is believed to announce interim leadership soon.
According to reports, the two-day operation led to eight felony charges, as the police made contact through “dark web” sites as a local hotel was agreed on as the meeting place. The ages of the 17 people caught in the sting range from 23-57, and include men and women. The charges include prostitution, procuring the services of a prostitute, promoting prostitution, conspiracy to promote prostitution, and controlled substance violations.
Last May, JSU welcomed former University of Florida quarterback, Jalon Jones, after two women accused him of sexual battery. And although the women declined to file charges, things were so uncomfortable that his roommate, Chris Steele, transferred due to how the football staff handled his request as he tried to get away from Jones by asking to be placed in a different dorm.
