Glad you're not surprised.
The president of Mississippi’s Jackson State University and another college employee busted in an undercover prostitution sting arrived at a hotel together, police said Tuesday. President William B…
nypost.com
Jackson State University prez, employee arrived at hotel prostitution sting together: cops
By
Joshua Rhett Miller
February 11, 2020 | 1:12pm |
Updated
Enlarge Image
William Bynum Jr., Shonda McCarthyClinton Police Department
The president of Mississippi’s Jackson State University and another college employee
busted in an undercover prostitution sting arrived at a hotel together, police said Tuesday.
William Bynum Jr., and Shonda McCarthy, the director of the university’s art galleries, were among 17 people arrested during a two-sting at a Fairfield Inn in Clinton, Police Chief Ford Hayman announced Monday.
SEE ALSO
Jackson State University president arrested in prostitution sting
“We do believe that they arrived at the hotel together,” police spokesman Mark Jones told The Post Tuesday. He declined to elaborate on any possible relationship between the pair.
Jones said investigators believe the two, like others caught up in the sting, were responding to an online ad. Their connection remains part of an ongoing investigation, he added.
Bynum, 57, who allegedly gave cops a fake name during his arrest, was charged with procuring services of a prostitute, false statement of identity and simple possession of marijuana. McCarthy, 46, too was charged with procuring services of a prostitute and possession of marijuana while operating a motor vehicle.
“It’s pure speculation at this point,” Jones said when asked why Bynum and McCarthy were together at the sting near Interstate 20. “I guess that will come out at another time.”
Both Bynum and McCarthy live in Jackson, police said.
Hayman on Monday confirmed that the pair had been ensnared in the prostitution sting, but declined to elaborate when asked for additional details by a reporter,
video shows.
“They were arrested,” the police chief replied. “It’s an ongoing investigation. As everybody that was arrested in this operation, an ad was online and they saw that ad, they called and set this up with our undercover officers. So that’s to the extent I can answer that question.”
A message seeking comment from Jackson State University was referred to the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning. Spokeswoman Caron Blanton did not immediately return an inquiry about Hayman and McCarthy.
Bynum, who had been president of Jackson State since 2017, resigned Monday as the head of the 5,300-student public university. Prior to the post, he served four years as president of Mississippi Valley State University.
“It’s really unfortunate that we are here today and 17 people were arrested,” Hayman told reporters Monday. “I wish we hadn’t arrested anyone but we’re going to all we can do to ensure that criminal activity is not going to transpire in the city of Clinton.”
Bynum, according to his since-removed university bio, has been married for four decades and has six children,
the Clarion Ledger reports.
Prior to being named the university’s president in May 2017, JSU alumni opposed his selection, but Bynum later sought to ensure students that they were in good hands, the newspaper reports.
“I know I may not be your choice, and that’s your choice,” Bynum told students and alumni that year. “The board made a choice, and I accepted. All I say is to watch me work.”
