Now the Syracuse-based organization is responding to community concerns that were brought to the attention of CNY Central. Marcus Jackson is the man in question, and Vera House says he was terminated last week. In New York State, Jackson is a level two registered sex offender. Level three offenders are considered the most dangerous. Jackson was convicted of unlawful sexual activity with a minor involving and year-old boys in All of these are learned behaviors in how to inappropriately deal with trauma.
Jackson, who is also a pastor, was part of the Clergy Emergency Response team in Syracuse too. He and others would be some of the first people on the scene after violence in the City of Syracuse, often with families of young victims of gun violence.
On Tuesday, CNY Central Investigative Reporter Mary Kielar went to the leaders of the non-profit to ask why they decided to hire a sex offender for a role that works with victims of sexual and domestic violence. Despite Jackson telling us in his July interview that his role impacted the lives of young people, Bregman claims the victims he worked with were all over 18 years old and that any contact with minors was in his volunteer capacity with the Clergy Emergency Response Team.
The victims Jackson worked with at Vera House were dealing with trauma after sexual, domestic, and other types of abuse. At the same time, we value the humanity of everyone, including somebody who may have committed harm. Vera House also heard concerns after the story and decided to terminate his employment. CNY Central asked Bregman, "would Marcus Jackson still be working here if the story that we did on July 15th featuring his position did not air and others started asking questions in the community.
Do you think he would still be working here and would that be okay if people found that out at some point other than now? The fact that he had a sex offense 20 years ago is not the reason that Marcus is not working here any longer. We came to the mutual agreement and understanding when there was reaction I would say to the interview that prompted some people to raise questions and push in.
