TUSCALOOSA COUNTY, Ala. (WBRC) – West Alabama Human Trafficking Task Force investigators have charged five men, including a Tuscaloosa County middle school teacher, with soliciting prostitution.

Investigators say each of the suspects responded to commercial sex ads posted online and arranged to meet and pay a woman for sex. The men were arrested after they arrived at a hotel in Tuscaloosa County and gave money to an undercover officer.

The following people have been charged with soliciting prostitution:

• David Tillet, 49, of Tuscaloosa
• John William Godfrey III, 40, of Cottondale
• Christopher Shan Hinkle, 56, of Camp Hill
• Joshua Vasha Samuel, 29, of Tuscaloosa
• Lawrence Eric Stephens, 43, of Tuscaloosa

Tillet was arrested on Friday, November 1, while the other suspects were arrested on Saturday, November 2.

Investigators say the men were transported to the Tuscaloosa County Jail with bail set at $300 each.

Tuscaloosa police say Stephens is a teacher at Duncanville Middle School. Tuscaloosa County school leaders released the following statement to families, staff and the media:

Capt. Phil Simpson of the Tuscaloosa Police Department and the West Alabama Human Trafficking Task Force says the charges are misdemeanors, but added that what the alleged “Johns” don’t realize is that the damage goes much deeper for them and beyond anything legal thing.

“And then you add the venereal disease and everything that they take home to their families without knowing about it and it becomes a physical problem for the rest of the family. It also harms ‘Johns’ ability to have a normal, loving relationship with another human being,’ said Captain Simpson.

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