Welch is a city of approximately 2,000 residents located in McDowell County, West Virginia.  Prostitution-related violence has been documented in the city.  For example, in August 2013 a confidential informant used as a decoy used in a prostitution sting operation was assaulted by two individuals.  Driven in part by complaints from the community regarding prostitution, some police operations have targeted demand.  A reverse sting operation was conducted by the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office in August 2013 that resulted in four arrests. The Sheriff’s Office used a confidential informant as a disguised prostituted woman, who was approached by two subjects in an attempt to solicit sex for money. The names and ages of the johns were released to the media.  The sex buyers were arraigned on the solicitation charges before a Magistrate. who set their bond at $1,000 each.