Duncanville Middle Teacher Charged With Soliciting Prostitution

TUSCALOOSA, AL —The West Alabama Human Trafficking Task Force over the weekend charged five men with soliciting prostitution, including a teacher from Duncanville Middle School.

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Patch has confirmed that among those charged with solicitation was 43-year-old Lawrence Eric Stephens, who has been an art teacher at Duncanville Middle since 2008.

Duncanville Middle School Principal Traci Primm acknowledged the arrest in a message to parents, saying the charges are not related to anything that occurred at school and do not involve a minor.

She then said that due to privacy laws, the school is limited in what it can share about matters that are personnel-related.

However, Primm said Stephens has been placed on administrative leave and will not be on the Duncanville Middle campus.

"The Tuscaloosa County School System has high expectations for all faculty and staff," she said. "We expect our employees to conduct themselves professionally and with honor. Please know that TCSS takes all reports of wrongdoing – whether by staff or students – seriously. The safety and well-being of students is our number one priority, at all times."

The multiagency task force said each of the suspects responded to commercial sex ads posted online and arranged to meet and pay a woman for sex.

Captain Phil Simpson, commander of the unit, said each of the men were arrested after arriving at the location and giving money to an undercover officer.

The following individuals were charged with soliciting prostitution and each given a bond of $300 at the Tuscaloosa County Jail.

• David Tillet, 49, of Tuscaloosa
• John William Godfrey III, 40, of Cottondale
• Christopher Shan Hinkle, 56, of Camp Hill
• Joshua Vasha Samuel, 29, of Tuscaloosa
• Lawrence Eric Stephens, 43, of Tuscaloosa

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