Ironton man faces charges of prostitution, suspended license

Published 9:41 am Thursday, March 21, 2013

An Ironton man will have a hearing in Boyd County District Court following his arrest last weekend on multiple charges including prostitution.

Jeff Willis, of 831 N. Fourth St., was arrested by Ashland Police on Friday at approximately 4:50 p.m. at the 2500 block of Carter Avenue.

According to the police report by Major Mark McDowell, a woman was walking on Carter Avenue in the 2300 block, talking on a cell phone and went inside a liquor store.

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“Then (she) came outside as a white Mercury SUV pulled up at the front door,” the report stated. “(The woman) exited the store and without hesitation jumped in the Mercury SUV. I initiated a traffic stop in the 2500 block of Carter Avenue.”

Willis was driving the SUV and told officers he was giving the woman a ride to a nearby restaurant. He denied he was soliciting a prostitute. He provided officers with an Ohio operator’s license, which had been suspended by Ohio for non-payment of an out of state fine.

Since he was not a Kentucky resident with multiple charges, Willis was arrested and charged with prostitution, operating on suspended license and possession of an operator’s license, the report stated. All charges are misdemeanors.

The woman was cited for prostitution. She was not arrested. Willis will appear before District Judge Scott Reese at 9:30 a.m. March 29.