Brett Easterbrook Arrested in Escambia County Alongside Satsuma School Board President Kory Wesley

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.

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 face 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.

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 is president of the Satsuma City Schools Board of Education. 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. No changes to the Satsuma board’s leadership or meeting schedule had been announced as of Friday.

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 law enforcement agencies took part in the investigation and arrests.
• Whether any other people were involved or charged.
• 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.