Photo by Arianna Grainey
Stop us if you’ve heard this before: there was another sex trafficking sting in Scottsdale recently, this time with a stunning 200 arrests, with 53 of those being felonies. Charges of child sex trafficking, prostitution, pandering, luring a minor for sexual exploitation, attempted sexual conduct with a minor, possession of narcotic drugs, and felony flight were levied in this particular sting.
While the identities of the arrested typically aren’t immediately made public, one notable exception was announced: Richard Godsil, the head football coach at Dobson High School, was arrested for sexual exploitation of a minor. Obviously, that’s a particularly troubling development considering his job’s proximity to minors, and he has rightfully been put on leave pending further investigation.
If this sounds like an old story, it’s not just you. Several stings were performed in 2024, with one leading to 158 arrests in February, another leading to 43 arrests in July, and a sex trafficking ringleader arrested in December. Whether this is a problem that primarily resides in Scottsdale compared to the rest of the state or whether it just appears to be more of a localized problem since the stings are focused in Scottsdale has yet to be determined, but with such an undeniably large number of arrests, it’s undeniably an issue.
So why is this? Part of this is almost undeniably a result of Scottsdale’s status as a premier vacation destination. Whether people come here for good weather, golf, or a party, there is almost always a feeling that the rules of everyday life don’t apply when you’re on vacation, and many will likely want to extend the party a bit further. After all, there aren’t any consequences when you’re on vacation, right?!?
That said, in at least one case and probably many, many more, it wasn’t a tourist, it was just someone from the other side of the Valley, so this explanation only holds so much water.
However, be it tourism from out-of-state, in-state nights out, or those who live in the city, it is certainly a draw to a certain demographic: older men with expendable income. It is almost a match made in heaven (or hell, as it were), a perfect breeding ground where enterprising criminals can find ideal clientele for their product: flesh. After all, it is probably much more lucrative to sell this product in Scottsdale than it is in Mesa or Tolleson.
Another dynamic that may come into play is the nightlife. It’s not unusual to go to a club in Old Town and see incredibly attractive, scantily-clad women pouring shots. It’s not much of a stretch to think that men will see that and then want more, prompting them to search out those services. Should they be able to control themselves? Absolutely. But it is not unreasonable to think that that serves as a stimulant for the industry.
So what can be done? Unfortunately to some degree it will probably turn into a game of “whack a mole” and eradicating the industry will be nearly impossible. But the more stings like this happen, the more harsh the sentences for sex traffickers become, and the more high profile these arrests become, the more it will serve as a deterrent for both the seller of the product as well as the buyer.