SMITH COUNTY — Suspended Precinct 1 Constable Henry Jackson will have his peace officer's license suspended.
The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement plans to send Jackson, 66, who was released from federal custody Wednesday, a notice of intent to suspend his license within the next week or so.
Gretchen Grigsby, TCOLE’s director of government relations, said Jackson would have 20 days from the date of receipt to respond.
He has two options. He can either meet for an informal conference with the commission’s staff or, if they cannot come to an agreement, he can request a hearing with the State Office of Administrative Hearings.
The commission’s nine-member board has the final decision in either case.
Jackson was sentenced to six months in federal prison and a year of probation after pleading guilty to federal charges for failing to pay four years of income tax.'
Grigsby said Jackson’s offense is the equivalent of a class A misdemeanor so, according to the commission’s administrative rules, that requires a minimum license suspension of 120 days to a maximum of 10 years.
Jackson became Smith County Precinct 1 constable in 1999 and prior to that served with the Tyler Police Department from 1977-83. From 1997-98, he was a reserve deputy for the Constable Precinct 3 Office.
Jackson was re-elected to his post in November 2016 with no opposition, and his term ends December 2020.
Howver, in December, former Smith County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Bobby Garmon was appointed to serve as Precinct 1 constable while a petition for Jackson’s removal plays out in court.
