Easterbrook, Wesley Complaints Allege Pair Sought Sex With Person Believed to Be a Minor; Trafficking Charges Reduced

ESCAMBIA COUNTY, Ala. — State Rep. Brett Easterbrook was arrested Friday in Escambia County along with Satsuma City School Board President Kory Wesley, and both men are charged with first-degree human trafficking, according to jail records and Escambia County Sheriff Heath Jackson.

Update, Oct. 7, 2026: Criminal complaints filed in the Escambia County cases allege that Rep. Brett Easterbrook agreed to pay $500 for sex with a person he believed was a minor and that Kory Wesley offered money for sex after being told an undercover agent was under 19. The amended charges also drop the cases from Class A to Class B felonies.

Latest developments: What the criminal complaints allege

The charging documents filed against Easterbrook and Wesley give the first public description of the conduct behind the human trafficking charges. The allegations are accusations only, and both men are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.

Easterbrook complaint: $500 cash

The complaint against Easterbrook, a Republican from Fruitdale, alleges that he agreed to pay $500 in cash for intercourse with an “escort” he believed to be a minor. Because the arrests came out of a sting, no actual minor was involved.

Wesley complaint: undercover agent posing as an 18-year-old

The complaint against Wesley says his arrest stemmed from communications with an undercover agent who was posing as an 18-year-old. It alleges that Wesley traveled and offered money in exchange for sexual acts “after having knowledge that UC was under 19 years of age,” with “UC” referring to the undercover agent.

The complaint further alleges that Wesley ran from officers on foot to avoid arrest after they identified themselves as police. That allegation is the basis of his separate misdemeanor charge of attempting to elude an officer.

Why ‘under 19’ matters

Under the human trafficking law cited in the cases, a minor is defined as anyone younger than 19. That differs from Alabama’s age of consent, which is 16. Nineteen is also the general age of majority in Alabama, the age at which a person is legally considered an adult for most purposes.

Charges drop from Class A to Class B felonies

As previously reported, prosecutors moved Monday to amend the first-degree human trafficking charges against both men to attempted human trafficking because, in the words of the motions, “this was a law enforcement ‘sting’ operation and did not involve an actual victim.”

The amendment changes the class of the charge from a Class A felony to a Class B felony, which takes a possible life sentence off the table. In Alabama, a Class B felony carries a sentencing range of two to 20 years in prison. Attempted human trafficking is still a felony.

Easterbrook also still faces the misdemeanor charge of soliciting or committing prostitution. As of early Monday, court records did not show upcoming court dates in either case.

Easterbrook’s legislative record on child predators

Easterbrook has presented himself as a supporter of family values. During the most recent legislative session, he voted for a bill that would allow the death penalty for child predators. That law would not apply to the charges he now faces.

Tucker’s case is different

Orange Beach’s former public works director, Timothy Tucker, who was arrested in the same operation, faces only a misdemeanor prostitution charge. He is not accused of soliciting someone he believed to be a minor.

Satsuma schools on filling the seat

In announcing Wesley’s resignation, Satsuma City Schools said the city’s mayor and City Council “have been notified of the vacancy and will move forward with the process of filling the position.” Until then, the school system said, “remaining board members will continue providing governance and support for Satsuma City Schools, while the superintendent will continue leading staff and overseeing day-to-day school operations.”

Update, Oct. 5, 2026: Prosecutors on Monday moved to reduce the human trafficking charges against Easterbrook and Wesley from first-degree human trafficking to attempted human trafficking, saying no victim was involved because the arrests came from a sting operation. Wesley resigned from the Satsuma City Schools Board of Education on Sunday evening. Details are in the “Latest developments” section below.

Jackson confirmed that both men were arrested and booked into the Escambia County Detention Center on Friday, Oct. 2. The county jail log shows the arrests were made at about 3:30 p.m.

The charges are accusations, not findings of guilt. Easterbrook and Wesley are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty in court.

The Charges

According to jail records, the two men face the following charges:

• Brett Easterbrook: first-degree human trafficking and a prostitution charge, which has also been described as soliciting prostitution.
• Kory Wesley: first-degree human trafficking and attempting to elude a police officer.

Both men initially faced felony charges. Under Alabama law, first-degree human trafficking is classified as a Class A felony, the most serious category of felony in the state’s criminal code, punishable by up to life in prison. As noted in the update above, prosecutors have since moved to reduce that charge to attempted human trafficking for both men.

Law enforcement officials have not released details about the circumstances that led to the arrests. No information has been made public about what investigators allege took place, whether the two cases are connected beyond the timing of the arrests, or which agencies were involved in the investigation.

Released Shortly After Booking

Jail records show both Easterbrook and Wesley were released within 30 minutes of being booked. Bond information was not listed in the records.

It was not clear Friday when either man will make a first appearance in court. Neither Easterbrook nor Wesley has publicly commented on the charges, and it was not immediately known whether either has retained an attorney.

Who Are Easterbrook and Wesley?

Easterbrook is a Republican from Fruitdale who represents Alabama House District 65. The district covers Washington County and parts of Clarke and Baldwin counties in southwest Alabama.

Wesley was president of the Satsuma City Schools Board of Education until his resignation Sunday, Oct. 4. The school system’s website listed him as board president as of May of this year. His profile has since been removed from the site.

Satsuma, a city in north Mobile County, operates its own school system, which separated from the Mobile County Public School System several years ago.

In Alabama, city boards of education are responsible for setting school system policy, approving budgets and hiring and overseeing the superintendent. The board president typically presides over board meetings.

Members of the Alabama House of Representatives serve four-year terms in the 105-member chamber, which meets in regular session each year in Montgomery.

About the Charges Under Alabama Law

Alabama’s human trafficking statutes broadly address subjecting another person to labor servitude or sexual servitude. Authorities have not said what conduct is alleged in these cases, and the specific facts behind the charges against Easterbrook and Wesley have not been made public.

Escambia County, where the arrests took place, sits along the Florida state line north of Pensacola. Its county seat is Brewton.

Satsuma City Schools Statement

Satsuma City Schools acknowledged the arrest in a statement posted on its Facebook page, without naming Wesley. The district said it is aware that a member of its Board of Education had been arrested.

“We are mindful of how this affects families, employees, students, and members of our community, who are not involved in the allegations. The school system will respect the legal process and will not comment on the matter at this time.”

The district added that it “remains focused on our responsibility to serve our students, employees, families, and community.”

The school system did not say whether the arrest would affect Wesley’s role on the board or the board’s upcoming business.

How the Process Works From Here

An arrest and booking is the first step in a criminal case, not a determination of guilt. In Alabama, a person charged with a crime is generally entitled to bail, and release on bond allows a defendant to remain free while the case moves forward, subject to any conditions set by the court.

Felony cases in Alabama typically move through several stages. After an arrest, a defendant may have an initial appearance and, in some cases, a preliminary hearing, where a judge considers whether there is probable cause to send the case forward. Felony charges are generally presented to a grand jury, which decides whether to return an indictment. If an indictment is returned, the defendant is arraigned and enters a plea, and the case may then proceed toward trial or another resolution.

At every stage, the burden is on the state to prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt. A defendant is not required to prove innocence.

What Remains Unknown

Several key questions remained unanswered Friday:

• What conduct investigators allege led to the human trafficking and related charges.
• Which agencies, beyond the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, took part in the multi-agency operation.
• The identities of the other men arrested in the sting.
• The amount and conditions of bond for either man.
• When Easterbrook and Wesley are scheduled to appear in court.

Escambia County Sheriff Heath Jackson confirmed the arrests and bookings, but authorities had not released further details as of Friday.

Where to Find Help

Anyone with information about possible human trafficking, or anyone who needs help, can contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or by texting 233733. In an emergency, call 911.

Update: Orange Beach Public Works Director Identified as Third Official Arrested

Orange Beach Public Works Director Timothy Tucker, 65, has been identified as a third official arrested in the same multi-day, multi-agency undercover operation in Escambia County. Tucker was charged with prostitution. He was booked into the Escambia County Detention Center and later released on bond.

The City of Orange Beach has not commented publicly on the matter but has removed Tucker’s profile from the city’s website.

Satsuma City Schools also issued a statement following the arrest of board president Kory Wesley. “Satsuma City Schools is aware of the arrest of a member of the Satsuma City Schools Board of Education,” the school system said. “We are mindful of how this affects families, employees, students and members of our community, who are not involved in the allegations. The school system will respect the legal process and will not comment on the matter at this time. Satsuma City Schools remains focused on our responsibility to serve our students, employees, families, and community.” The school system has removed Wesley’s profile from its website.

Escambia County Sheriff Heath Jackson said more information about the operation will be released in the coming days. All three men have been released on bond and are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

Update: New Booking Details on All Three Officials

Additional jail and public records released over the weekend fill in more details about the three officials arrested in the Escambia County operation.

• Timothy Tucker: Escambia County Sheriff’s Office records show the 65-year-old Orange Beach public works director was booked at 6:03 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 2, and released at 7 p.m. the same evening. He is charged under Alabama Code Section 13A-12-121, the state’s prostitution statute. That law is a statewide criminal statute, not a county ordinance. His booking photo had not been released.
• Brett Easterbrook: The 63-year-old Fruitdale Republican has served in the Alabama Legislature since 2018. He has posted bond.
• Kory Wesley: The 38-year-old has served on the Satsuma City Schools Board of Education since 2022. Records describe him as an IT technical services manager for Infirmary Health in Mobile. He was also released on bond.

Bond amounts for the three men were not listed on the detention center’s website. Sheriff Heath Jackson has said more information about the multi-day, multi-agency operation will be released in the coming days. All three men are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.

Latest Developments: Charges Reduced, Wesley Resigns

Prosecutors move to attempted human trafficking

According to court documents filed Monday morning, Oct. 5, prosecutors asked to reduce the charges against Easterbrook and Wesley from first-degree human trafficking to attempted human trafficking. Because the arrests came out of a sting operation, prosecutors wrote, no actual victim was involved. The attempted charge carries a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison, compared with a possible life sentence for the original first-degree count.

Under Alabama law, first-degree human trafficking generally involves subjecting a person to labor or sexual servitude through coercion or deception, or involving a minor. Authorities still have not described what specific conduct is alleged against either man.

The court filings confirm that the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office made the arrests Friday afternoon as part of a sting, but provide no further detail about the operation. The sheriff’s office has said the multi-day operation led to the arrests of at least a dozen other men in addition to the three public officials, and that more information is forthcoming.

The remaining charges

• Easterbrook: attempted human trafficking (as amended) and soliciting prostitution, a Class A misdemeanor.
• Wesley: attempted human trafficking (as amended) and attempting to elude an officer, a Class A misdemeanor.
• Tucker: prostitution, a misdemeanor.

In Alabama, a Class A misdemeanor is punishable by up to one year in county jail. As of mid-Monday morning, neither Easterbrook nor Wesley had an attorney listed in court documents, and attempts to reach both men were unsuccessful. No court date had been announced.

Wesley steps down from the Satsuma school board

Satsuma City Schools said in a statement posted Monday that Wesley submitted his resignation from the Board of Education on Sunday evening. The school system said the mayor and City Council of Satsuma were notified and will “move forward with the process of filling the position.”

The remaining board members and the superintendent will continue carrying out their duties in the meantime. The district said it “remains committed to its core values of growth, community and high expectations.”

Easterbrook’s legislative career

Easterbrook was first elected to the Alabama House in 2018, when he defeated incumbent Elaine Beech for the House District 65 seat. He serves as vice chairman of the House Insurance Committee and has also served on the Agriculture and Forestry, Transportation & Utilities, and Ways and Means General Fund committees. In the House, he mainly sponsored local bills and legislation related to construction.

Easterbrook did not qualify to seek re-election this year, and his term ends in November. Messages seeking comment were left with Alabama House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter, R-Rainsville.

The charges against all three men are accusations. Easterbrook, Wesley and Tucker are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.