McCurtain jail administrator placed on leave
IDABEL, Okla. (KTEN) — Another McCurtain County official has been removed from their position in the fallout from explosive recordings that were released last month.
The McCurtain County Jail Trust voted unanimously to place jail administrator Larry Hendrix on paid leave. This follows the resignation of Commissioner Mark Jennings.
In March, the McCurtain Gazette-News secretly recorded Hendrix and three other county officials. They were heard discussing the lynching of Black people and threatening journalists.
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt called the resignation of all four officials after the newspaper published its account. Sheriff Kevin Clardy and sheriff's office Investigator Alicia Manning remain in their positions.
Hendrix will remain on administrative leave at least for the duration of an inquiry by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.
The duty of choosing a new jail administrator is up to remaining Commissioner John Williams.
KTEN reached out to McCurtain County for comment, but officials declined.
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