There are 13 article(s) tagged Michele Henley:

• July 2026

  • DeSoto DA asks court to throw out suit over ‘pedophile sympathizer’ comment

    DeSoto County Schools board member Michele Henley filed suit last week accusing Barton of defamation.

    By Aarron Fleming July 09, 2026

  • DeSoto County Schools board member suing DA

    A DeSoto County Schools board member is suing District Attorney Matthew Barton for defamation.

    By Aarron Fleming July 03, 2026

• December 2025

  • ‘You are not the victim’: DeSoto residents renew calls for school board member to resign over support letter

    The criticism of DeSoto County School Board member Michele Henley continued Thursday as two speakers again called for her resignation at the board’s monthly meeting.

    By Brandon LaGrone II December 04, 2025

• November 2025

  • Bailey: A strong-willed Henley seems determined to ignore calls for her resignation

    DeSoto County school board member Michele Henley has steadfastly ignored calls from varying segments of the community to step down from her elected position.

    By Clay Bailey November 28, 2025

  • DeSoto school board asks lawmakers to revive bill that could remove one of its own members

    This move comes as board member Michele Henley faces sustained pressure for supporting convicted former youth pastor Lindsey Whiteside.

    By Brandon LaGrone II November 25, 2025

  • DeSoto County DA seeks new sentencing for Whiteside after support letters found to be coerced

    Two people who wrote letters of support for Lindsey Whiteside have recanted their communiques after the former assistant basketball coach pleaded guity of sexual battery of a minor.

    By Brandon LaGrone II November 11, 2025

  • Empty desks, full outrage: DeSoto protest data shows significant participation

    A one-day protest by students in the DeSoto County Schools over the district’s handling of the case against Lindsey Whiteside, drew a significant number of absences on Oct. 22.

    By Brandon LaGrone II November 06, 2025

• October 2025

  • Federal grand jury indicts former youth pastor on 3 felony counts after controversial state sentence

    An unsealed federal indictment outlines the charges against Lindsey Whiteside, a former youth pastor, who pleaded guilty in DeSoto County Circuit Court to sexual battery of a minor and received a widely criticized house arrest sentence.

    By Brandon LaGrone II October 27, 2025

  • DeSoto County parents plan protest following Whiteside sentencing

    A group of parents is leading the charge against DeSoto County school leaders with a protest after a former coach pleaded guilty to sexual battery with a minor.

    Related content:

    Judge who presided over Lindsey Whiteside case recuses himself, blasts DA

    By Brandon LaGrone II October 21, 2025

  • DeSoto County school board seeks resignation of member who supported Lindsey Whiteside

    DeSoto School Board members want Michele Henley to step down from her office, after she wrote a letter of support for Lindsey Whiteside, who pleaded guilty to sexual battery with a minor.

    By Clay Bailey October 17, 2025

  • Community members demand resignation of school board member who defended Lindsey Whiteside

    The combination of Whiteside’s sentence and school board member Michele Henley’s defense of her has galvanized a growing movement focused on accountability within DeSoto County’s leadership and education systems.

    By Brandon LaGrone II October 16, 2025

• November 2022

  • Hernando voters reject 1% tax earmarked for parks, recreation

    Hernando voters reject 1% tax earmarked for parks and recreation. Meanwhile, two school board candidate win offices in Tuesday’s election.

    By Toni Lepeska November 09, 2022

  • DeSoto County votes on a pair of school board seats

    Two seats of the DeSoto County School Board will be elected in November, one of the offices to replace longtime politician Milton Nichols.

    By Toni Lepeska November 02, 2022