Daleville prostitution sting nets 15 arrests

It may be a crime as old as time, but it’s still illegal and rumors of prostitution in Daleville led police officials to set up a sting operation last week, ending the sexual excursions of 15 men.

The “johns,” from various Wiregrass communities, were arrested in a three-day period from May 4 through May 6 after they unknowingly solicited undercover operatives for sex. All of the men have been charged with third degree promoting prostitution.

“Facing rumors of prostitution surfacing in Daleville, Daleville investigators Stacey Austin and Noah Suiter set up a sting operation for those believing Daleville was a safe place to meet. All arrested men responded to a popular website advertising sex for money and made contact with the undercover decoys,” said Public Safety Director Harvey Mathis. “Allegedly, all arrested believed when they arrived in Daleville they were going to have a sexual encounter with a prostitute. They contacted our decoys, made known what type of sexual encounter they wanted and agreed to a price to be paid. However, their anticipations were quickly doused when they found Daleville Public Safety officers hiding inside waiting to arrest them.”

The men arrested ranged in age from 24 to 69, according to arrest reports. Most are professionals, such as aviation managers, engineers, politicians and a farmer. Only six of the 15 have prior arrest records, according to police reports. Only one man was from Daleville. One man is head of an area farmer’s cooperative association, another an engineer from Dothan and yet another, a former city councilman of a nearby town.

Arrested were Brandon G. Sledge, 39, of Dothan; Bernell Caliste Jones, 46, of Ozark; Kenneth Alfred Walls, 69, of New Brockton; Seth Anthony Holmes, 26, of Slocomb; Danny Hill, 57, of Ozark; Robert Jackson, 24, of Midland City; Bruce Hall, 48, Dothan; Carlos Hernandez, 41, of Newton; Christopher Eric Clemmons, 44, of Ashford; Christopher James Hatcher, 31, of Newton; Elijah Lee Joice, 30, of Daleville;  Eben Michael Rummell, 39, of Midland City; Steven Lorenzo Hooks, 53, of Dothan; Nicholus Randolph, 45, of Headland; and David Christopher Franklin, 48, of Luverne.

Clemmons is a former Ashford City Council member. He was also found in possession of drug paraphernalia and marijuana, and was charged accordingly. Clemmons was bailed out of jail on a total of $2,500 bond.

All of the men were arrested between 11:58 a.m. to 6:18 p.m. on either Wednesday, Thursday or Friday of last week, according to arrest records.

Investigators say they want the public to know this type of behavior in Daleville will not be tolerated, and they will continue to work to make the community a safe place for everyone. Also, that they take “sex trafficking” seriously and by curbing the number of “johns” soliciting for sex services, an impact will be made on the sex-trafficking trade in the general area.

Mathis said others, besides Clemmons, also had weapons and drugs on their person and will face additional charges.

“We are joining law enforcement agencies around the country conducting similar operations hoping to strangle the sex industry and help curb human trafficking,” said Mathis and one of the investigators working the sting.

“Law enforcement around the country has been very successful in reducing prostitution by focusing attention on sex buyers—often called ‘johns.’ Those who solicit sex for money are the ones that fuel the sex industry. It is our intent in arresting them in our sting operation to curb the demand for prostitution.”

Mathis said, “If you are a so-called ‘john’ thinking about soliciting sex in Daleville, beware, because we will be waiting, and we will arrest you.”