“I Supported Lindsey Whiteside Coaching My Daughter, But I Did Not Endorse Wrongdoing”: DeSoto County School Board Member

Michele did not support or excuse Lindsey’s actions.

October 16, 2026

This article was last updated by Alisha Shrestha on October 16, 2026

Michele Smith Henley, a DeSoto County School Board member, posted a statement on Facebook to address growing criticism about her involvement in a recent legal matter.

In her post, she clarified that she had written a letter describing how Lindsey Whiteside once coached her daughter before basketball tryouts.

Henley emphasized that the letter was about a personal experience and not an endorsement of any alleged misconduct.

She also attached the letter for transparency and stated that she felt compelled to speak out due to the public discussion surrounding her character.

Lindsey Whiteside was a former youth minister at Getwell Church in Hernando and an assistant basketball coach at DeSoto Central High School.

She pleaded guilty to child sexual battery and was sentenced to three years of house arrest, followed by seven years of post-release supervision.

The case began in November 2026, when Whiteside was arrested and later indicted by a grand jury.

Prosecutors revealed that she had repeated sexual contact with an underage girl between May and November 2026.

The evidence included 64,000 pages of text messages, which the District Attorney described as an overwhelming mountain.

School Board Member Defends Letter in Controversial Abuse Case: “I Spoke as a Mother, Not as an Official“

In her letter to Judge Andrew Howorth, Henley explained that she had known the Whiteside family for years and had asked Lindsey to help her daughter prepare for the middle school basketball team.

She praised Lindsey’s encouragement and support and also credited her with helping her daughter have a positive experience.

Henley clarified in her Facebook post that she did not testify for the defense but was subpoenaed by the District Attorney.

On the stand, she said she did not condone Lindsey’s actions and left sentencing decisions to the judge.

In her post, many people have expressed mixed opinions; several responded with support, while others criticized.

Some community members offered strong support, writing:

I know your character and am grateful for growing up in the same community with you!

Keep your faith and keep your head up!!

However, others expressed concern, with one comment stating:

You are an amazing mom! I’m so glad I got to call you my second mom between the sleep overs, vacations and back yard bible studies you along with my parents gave me a good foundation not to mention taking care of me when I had all my seizures in church you were right there and that’s just some of the things you have done for me alone that isn’t the things you have done for my brother or my family let alone the other countless other acts I could list you are 1 in a million

However, others expressed concern, with one comment stating:

You chose to write a letter WHILE knowing the charges. You were also asked after hearing the evidence if you wanted to proceed with your stance. You still did. Let’s not forget, your position of power as a board member was used in this letter.

On the other hand, one person believes Henley should not have written a letter supporting someone accused of serious misconduct, saying:

First, you should never have written a letter on behalf of a sexual predator! Second, you should have never mentioned the DeSoto County School Board! Third, what about the victim? If you’re going to represent the school board then your letter should have been in support of the victim that so bravely came forward and reported these vile acts!

By reporting maybe she saved one of your family members from being SA’d by this monster!

While some people support Michele as a caring mom, others criticize her for using her school board role to defend someone accused of serious abuse.

As per her, she wrote the letter as a mother, sharing her personal experience with Lindsey Whiteside coaching her daughter.

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• Lindsey Whiteside
• Michele Smith Henley

Sangita is a passionate blogger with a keen eye for covering recent and trending news, particularly in the world of sports. Her love for travel and nature fuels her writing, adding a vibrant and refreshing perspective to her work. When she's not chasing the latest headlines, Sangita can be found exploring new destinations, capturing the beauty of nature, and sharing her adventures with her audience. Her unique blend of interests and expertise makes her blog a go-to source for both news enthusiasts and fellow travelers.

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