The Anniston Star is reporting that seven women arrested in September during an Oxford prostitution sting have pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges, while charges have been dropped against four men arrested for promoting prostitution.
County prosecutors told the paper there was not enough evidence to prosecute the men in court. The women, charged with misdemeanor soliciting prostitution offenses, said nothing to implicate the men. The women will pay court costs and fines and serve probation.
“Operation Clean Sweep” was a one-day event in late September that had been planned for some time and resulted in 14 arrests.
Calhoun-Cleburne District Attorney Brian McVeigh assisted in the investigation, as did the Etowah County Drug Task Force, Gadsden Police and the FBI. The operation was similar to one carried out a month before in Gadsden, where 10 men were arrested.
Partridge said at the time the people arrested were using backpage.com, a site that has been mentioned in prostitution stings nationally, to arrange meetings.
Prosecutors said the women arrested were provided with information on domestic abuse and agencies that can help.