Authorities on Friday arrested state Representative Brett Easterbrook, a Republican who represented House District 65 for the past eight years, on charges of first-degree human trafficking and prostitution as part of a sting that led to the arrests of at least a dozen other men.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office confirmed over the weekend that the arrest stemmed from a multiday operation that also led to the arrests of at least two other public officials in the area: Satsuma City School Board President Kory Wesley faces charges of first-degree human trafficking and attempting to elude law enforcement, and Orange Beach Public Works Director Timothy Tucker faces a prostitution charge.
Authorities say more information is forthcoming but have yet to provide details of the sting that would explain the nature of the individual charges. First-degree human trafficking is a Class A felony punishable by life in prison, while prostitution—meaning the solicitation of a prostitute—is a misdemeanor.
First-degree human trafficking indicates that the victim was subjected to labor or sexual servitude through coercion or deception, or that a minor was involved.
Both Easterbrook and Wesley were released within an hour of being booked into the Escambia County Jail.
