MOULTON-Over the last several weeks law enforcement agencies with Lawrence County conducted a multi-agency undercover prostitution investigation.
On Monday, August 8 eight people were arrested as a result of the prostitution sting. Drugs and a stolen handgun were also seized during the sting.
Authorities say during the investigation agents arranged for several females to come to a motel located in Moulton. The women were contacted with the intention of having sexual intercourse. Lawrence County Sheriff Gene Mitchell aid that agents were able to arrange for one of the females to provide an undercover with a quarter ounce of high-grade marijuana and sexual intercourse involving two female participants.
According to investigators seven females were arrested on prostitution charges and five of them are also being charged with drug charges which include felony possession to felony distribution. The women were transported to the motel in Moulton from Limestone County and Huntsville.
The arrest of Jaron Townsend occurred after agents conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle in which he was operating, due to him dropping off two of the females at the motel to conduct the sex act with the undercover. Agents located a handgun in the vehicle that was found to have been reported stolen out of Florida. Agents later learned that Townsend had been convicted of at least two violent crimes and that Townsend was currently on state probation for one of the crimes.
