Woodfin, NC
Categories:
Tactics Used |
|
---|---|
Auto Seizure | ✓ |
Buyer Arrests | ✓ |
Cameras | ✓ |
Community Service | ✓ |
Employment Loss | ✓ |
Identity Disclosure | ✓ |
IT Based Tactics | ✓ |
John School | ✓ |
Letters | ✓ |
License Suspension | ✓ |
Neighborhood Action | ✓ |
Public Education | ✓ |
Reverse Stings | ✓ |
SOAP Orders | ✓ |
Web Stings | ✓ |
Woodfin is a small town of about 8,100 residents in Buncombe County, North Carolina. It is located in the western part of the state, near Asheville. Prostitution and sex trafficking activity are known to occur throughout the region, and individuals known to sexually exploit minors are known to reside in the town of Woodfin. For example, in 2007 a registered sex offender with a prior conviction for solicitation of prostitution filed suit to challenge a local ordinance that prohibits registered sex offenders from knowingly entering any public park owned and operated by the town of Woodfin. In February, 2021 the Woodfin Police Department arrested a man on charges of multiple sex crimes with children, including kidnapping and sexual servitude of a child, which is classified as a “sex trafficking” charge in North Carolina. The man, who was identified in news releases, was charged with a total of 15 felonies: kidnapping (2 counts); statutory sexual offense with a child by an adult (3 counts); sexual servitude-child victim (4 counts); 2nd degree forced sexual offense (3 counts); and indecent liberties with a child (3 counts). The defendant was initially held in the Buncombe County Detention Center on a $500,000 bond.
Key Partners
- Woodfin Police Department
- Buncombe County Detention Center
- Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office
Key Sources
Arrest of Sex Buyer, Identity Disclosure:
Background on Local Prostitution and Sex Trafficking:
- “Woman Charges Abductors Sold Her to Motorcycle Gang,” Wilmington Star-News, May 11 1982.
- “Grand Jury Indicts 6 Outlaws’ Members,” Wilmington Star-News, May 30 1982.
- “Kidnap Victim Testifies,” Wilmington Star-News, October 21 1982.
- “Woman Says She Was ‘Sold,’” Lexington Dispatch, October 21 1982.
- “2 Outlaws Gang Cohorts Sentenced in Kidnapping,” Lexington Dispatch, March 11 1983.
- “Cycle Gang Leader Gets 15 Years,” Lakeland Ledger, April 22 1983.
- “Federal, State Officials Battle over Prisoner,” Lexington Dispatch, June 1 1983.
- “Charges Unfounded,” Hendersonville Times-News, August 12 1983.
- “Asheville; Three Arrested on Sex Charges,” Lexington Dispatch, August 31 2001.
- “Asheville; Police Probe State Prostitution Ring,” Wilmington Star-News, September 1 2001.
- “Man Accused in Prostitution Ring Sentenced to Less than Three Years,” Asheville Citizen-Times, December 6 2001.
- https://casetext.com/case/standley-v-town-of-woodfin-4 (2007)
- “West Asheville Businessman Accused of Offering to Pay for Sex with Teenage Girl,” Asheville Citizen-Times, August 24 2010.
Background on Prostitution and Sex Trafficking in the Region:
- “Prostitution; Carolinas Are Major Link in Network,” Wilmington Star-News, January 1 1979.
- “Asheville Woman Convicted of Running House of Prostitution,” Asheville Citizen-Times, October 23 2002.
- “Buncombe County Arrests,” Asheville Citizen-Times, September 18 2007.
- “Efforts against Prostitution Will Make Asheville a Better Place,” Asheville Citizen-Times, March 9 2008.
- “South French Broad Neighbors Fight Crime,” Asheville Citizen-Times, April 21 2008.
- “Prostitution Problem a Factor in Parents Pulling Their Students out of Asheville Middle School,” Asheville Citizen-Times, April 28 2008.
- “Asheville Residents Unite to Take Back Neighborhood,” Wilmington Star-News, May 10 2008.
- “Police: Problems with Prostitutes Drop Significantly,” Asheville Citizen-Times, June 15 2009.
- “Asheville Woman Arrested on Prostitution Charge,” Asheville Citizen-Times, August 24 2010.
- “Asheville Woman Arrested on Prostitution Charge,” Asheville Citizen-Times, February 24 2011.
- “Asheville Prostitution Sting Nabs Four Suspects,” Asheville Citizen-Times, March 12 2011.
- “Asheville Police Department Arrests More for Prostitution Offenses,” Asheville Citizen-Times, May 3 2011.
- “Three Arrested in Asheville Prostitution Sting,” Asheville Citizen-Times, August 4 2011.
- “Prostitution Crimes on Decline,” Asheville Citizen-Times, January 29 2012.
- “Asheville Woman Charged with Soliciting for Prostitution,” Asheville Citizen-Times, July 10 2012.
- “Woman Faces Prostitution Charges in Asheville,” Asheville Citizen-Times, October 29 2013.
- “3 Asheville Women Face Prostitution Charges,” Asheville Citizen-Times, January 23 2014.
- “Asheville Prostitution Arrests an Ongoing Effort,” Asheville Citizen-Times, January 23 2014.
- “Asheville Woman Arrested on Prostitution Charge,” Asheville Citizen-Times, March 8 2014.
- “Asheville Woman Faces Felony Prostitution Charge,” Asheville Citizen-Times, February 19 2015.
- “Answer Man Checks on Mysterious Planes, Unnamed Johns,” Asheville Citizen-Times, March 11 2015.
- “4 Charged in Asheville during FBI Trafficking Operation,” Asheville Citizen-Times, October 13 2015.
- “Man Charged with Promoting Prostitution,” Asheville Citizen-Times, December 18 2015.
- https://www.citizen-times.com/3-women-arrested-prostitution-related-charges-reynolds-area-spa (2018)
Documented Violence Against Individuals Engaged in Prostitution in the Region:
- “1st Trial to Be in Asheville; Man Being Held in N.C. Murder Charged in 7 Florida Deaths,” Wilmington Star-News, April 5 1997.
- “Suspected Killer of Prostitute Linked to 7 More Slayings,” Washington Observer-Reporter, April 5 1997.
- “Convicted Murderer Denied Parole,” Hendersonville Times-News, April 25 2006.
- “Investigators to Look at Link between Women’s Deaths,” Asheville Citizen-Times, August 12 2006.
State | North Carolina |
Type | City |
Population | 8107 |
Location |
Comments are closed.