Posted on 01/05/2023 4:29:16 PM PST by Steely Tom
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Following a CNY Central report that Vera House, a Syracuse-based nonprofit that helps survivors of domestic and sexual abuse, knowingly hired and employed a registered level two sex offender to work with victims, we have learned that the employee in question, Marcus Jackson, was arrested in the Town of Manlius just one day before his mutual parting of ways with the organization at the beginning of August.
According to Manlius Police, Jackson was arrested and issued an appearance ticket after officers said he was caught taking copper wiring and scrap metal from a business on July 31 at about 2:30 a.m.
Officers were in the area conducting a proactive check of the business on Fremont Road after a recent burglary was reported at the location.
When they arrived, officers found a man who they later identified as Jackson.
While investigating the larceny, officers said they also determined that Jackson had been driving with a suspended driver's license, suspended vehicle registration, and no insurance.
Vera House’s Co-Executive Director Randi Bregman said the organization was not aware of Jackson’s recent arrest and was “shocked to see it.”
“Employers usually don't know about arrests and aren't supposed to make decisions based on arrests. Marcus's final date of employment had been determined the week before so this could not have been a factor,” said Bregman.
She previously explained the rationale behind Jackson’s hiring by saying his crime was from 20 years ago, though he had also been arrested in Florida as recently as four years prior to starting his job for failure to register as a sex offender.
Vera House released a statement Thursday, ahead of the discovery of Jackson’s recent arrest, vowing never to hire a sex offender again.
The organization also said they are currently in the process of contacting clients who worked with Jackson to ensure their concerns are addressed and any needed services are provided.
According to Manlius Police, Jackson is scheduled to appear in court on August 25.
Marcus Johnson was hired there at a time when there were Help Wanted signs everywhere in the Syracuse area.
Because it is a charity, it pays very low wages. Many positions there go to volunteers.
As a New York State employer, they are not allowed to check the arrest records of prospective hires.
Oh, and there's no need to look.
This story is from more than a year ago, and I only just found out about it. To say it has been downplayed by the local news media would be something of an understatement.
So background investigations are unlawful. That’s so stupid it is difficult to process.
It wouldn’t be unlawful for prospective hires to offer this information though, correct.
“Anything you’d like to add, anything you can think of?”
“Well, yes. I’ve never been arrested for anything, I’m not currently a fugitive in any state or territory, and I’m not on parole.”
A brutha gotta have dem Benjamins to survive.
Arresting him be raciss.
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