By SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
ATMORE — Two public officials have resigned, and trafficking charges against an Alabama legislator and a former school board president have been amended following an undercover operation in Escambia County.
State Rep. Brett Easterbrook, R-Fruitdale, former Satsuma City School Board President Kory Wesley and former Orange Beach Public Works Director Timothy Tucker were among 17 people arrested during the operation, according to reporting citing Atmore police.
Easterbrook and Wesley initially faced first-degree human trafficking charges. District Judge James Eric Coale approved prosecutors’ requests to amend those charges to attempted first-degree human trafficking. Prosecutors explained that the operation involved undercover officers rather than an actual trafficking victim.
According to charging documents reported by 1819 News, Easterbrook allegedly agreed to pay $500 for sex with someone he believed was under 19. He also faces a soliciting-prostitution charge. Wesley faces an additional charge of attempting to elude an officer. The allegations have not been proven in court.
Satsuma City Schools received Wesley’s resignation Oct. 4. The school system said the mayor and City Council had been notified and would proceed with filling the vacancy.
Tucker, who faces a soliciting-prostitution charge, also resigned. Orange Beach named Tyler Davidson as its new public works director, saying his experience would provide continuity for the department.
Alabama Reflector reported that Easterbrook and Wesley were released shortly after their arrests. Easterbrook, first elected in 2018, was not seeking reelection this year, according to the publication.
As of Oct. 12, no later court disposition or confirmed resignation by Easterbrook was located in the sources reviewed. The amended charges remain pending allegations, and all three men are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.