On Monday, the Hocking County Sheriff’s Office announced the arrest of Athens High School teacher, Wayne Horsely, 52, for alleged solicitation of a prostitute.
According to the Hocking County Sheriff’s Office Facebook announcement, the arrest was part of a larger sting operation in conjunction with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Southeastern Ohio Human Trafficking Taskforce.
The operation was focused on several individuals who responded to online advertisements in hopes of having paid sexual encounters with women or children.
In total, five arrests were made over the weekend. Horsley was transported to the Southeast Ohio Regional Jail to await trial. According to Hocking County Municipal Court documents, Horsley has pleaded not guilty.
Horsley worked as a teacher at the Athens City High School and is currently on paid leave, according to a statement from the Athens City School District Superintendent, Tom Gibbs. He has been directed to refrain from contacting any students throughout the course of the school district’s investigation and is not permitted to be on school property.
“The members of the Athens City School District Board of Education and Administration condemn human trafficking in any form and are very disappointed to learn that one of our own employees may have supported such an egregious practice,” Gibbs wrote in the email.
