Hayfield is a small community of approximately 1,300 residents in Dodge County, MN. Local sex buyers have had their identities publicized, and have been convicted, sentenced, and ordered to attend an education program, often referred to as a “John School,” in addition to other penalties. For example, in January, 2023, a Hayfield man who had been arrested in a Rochester prostitution sting pleaded guilty to the charge of engaging in prostitution and received one year of probation. Alleged patrons of prostitution in Minnesota are typically charged with a gross misdemeanor, which usually results in probation and in Rochester, must attend a class on the effects of human trafficking on victims, associate county attorney Arianna Whitney said. The 46-year-old man from Hayfield was arrested and accused of engaging in prostitution on Nov. 8, 2022. According to court documents, undercover officers with Rochester police placed and monitored an ad advertising sexual services for individuals willing to meet a young woman at a location of her choice. The Hayfield man responded to the ad, arranged to pay the undercover officers posing as a sex worker for specific sexual services, and were arrested with cash on hand when they arrived at the specified location. The educational course was listed as a part of the men’s plea deal, and he was also ordered to pay $1,590 in fines and court fees.

There have been other instances of local sex buyers having their identities publicly disclosed.  For example, in December, 2022, the Olmsted County Attorney’s Office charged a Hayfield man connected to a prostitution sting that occurred in Rochester in late 2021. He was arrested after answering an advertisement posted by an undercover Rochester police officer to various websites used by people seeking to purchase sexual acts. Court documents say he answered the ad and messaged with the undercover officer to arrange a meeting at a hotel in Rochester.

In April, 2024, seven Rochester area men were arraigned in Olmsted County Court on felony charges resulting from an undercover “sting” sex trafficking investigation. Rochester Police, in partnership with the Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office, the Olmsted County Attorney’s Office, and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension conducted what was termed a proactive sex trafficking operation over two days that culminated in the arrests of the seven individuals. According to the criminal complaints against all seven men, Rochester police created and posted online advertisements on websites known to be utilized by people seeking to purchase sex. The targets of the investigation were instructed to message a phone number provided on the ad to arrange for the illicit services. The court documents say online chatting sessions were conducted and each of the men allegedly spoke with undercover officers posing as a person under the age of 18. After agreeing to meet to purchase sexual acts from the “underage” individuals, the men were taken into custody individually when they showed up at prearranged locations in Rochester to allegedly complete the illegal transactions. Among those arrested was a 48-year-old man from Hayfield, MN, whose identity was included in press releases.

In December, 2025, it was announced that a Hayfield man arrested in a sex trafficking sting operation pleaded guilty to one felony count to “hire an actor for prostitution.” According to court records, the 51-year-old man believed the person he was “hiring for sex acts” was 17 years old. He was actually talking to an undercover police officer. The operation was conducted at a local business by the Rochester Police Department, Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office, and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. In total, seven people were arrested as part of the operation. Online advertisements were created with a female offering sexual acts or services for money. All of the suspects arrested individually responded to the ad and agreed to purchase access to sexually abuse a minor. The identities of all of the arrested sex buyers were publicly disclosed.