WINNSBORO — Fairfield County Tax Assessor Wendell Irby, was among seven individuals arrested over the weekend following a two-day undercover operation into prostitution and drugs. Irby, 56, of 3253 Kincaid Bridge Road was netted in the Richland County Sheriff’s Department sting operation and charged with solicitation of prostitution.
Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott said that the Richland County Sheriff’s Department Narcotics Unit focused on individuals using Backpage.com for prostitution purposes. During the operation, an undercover narcotics agent posted an advertisement which resulted in over 40 telephone calls to set up appointments for services. When the suspects showed up for their appointments, and requested sex in exchange for money, they were arrested.
He said that prostitution often leads to other crimes, such as robbery, carjacking, drugs or weapons violations. The Sheriff stated that the Department will continue to pursue criminals in whatever venue they chose to commit their crimes. Sheriff Leon Lott said, “if they chose to commit crime online, in our neighborhoods or our business community we will pursue them to the fullest extent of the law.”
Sheriff Lott said a concerned citizen prompted the department to set up the sting which resulted in arrests for drugs and solicitation of prostitution.
During the two day operation, the following arrests were made in addition to Irby:
• Brandon Clea-Evans 12/24/85 26yrs SPMJ and DUS 1st
• Ellison Hudson 09/07/88 24yrs Solicitation of Prostitution
• Robert Law 07/21/84 28yrs Solicitation of Prostitution
• Marques Wilson 02/21/77 35yrs Solicitation of Prostitution
• Isaiah Regin 01/05/91 21yrs Solicitation of Prostitution
• Quention Govan 07/10/76 36yrs Solicitation of Prostitution
And lastly but not least to conclude your statement with "Mr. Irby was probably driving a County" is an unfair statement/assumption to make unless you know this to be fact and if that is the case then it would be unacceptable behavior.
Remember to put yourself in their shoes and ask the question can you live a "perfect" life in the publics eye and even if you tried I gurantee you someone will find fault because they/we are always looking for it.
He has done far more good things than this one bad thing.
BTW, would you feel the same if it was a cop, a teacher, the mayor, your preacher?