Prostitution Arrest on Hilton Head Island: A Rare Occurrence
Last week on beautiful Hilton Head Island, a late-night traffic stop turned into an unexpected arrest for prostitution. It all started around 1:30 a.m. on a Friday when a Beaufort County deputy spotted a white Mercedes speeding away from the Red Roof Inn, nestled on Regency Parkway near the Shelter Cove area.
The Traffic Stop
The deputy noted the car was zipping along at 55 mph in a 45 mph zone and had swerved into the neighboring lane—definitely a reason to pull someone over. As the officer approached the vehicle, a distinctive smell hit him: marijuana wafting from the glove box!
Meeting on Social Media
Inside the car were a 45-year-old man from South Carolina and a 38-year-old woman hailing from Jacksonville, Florida. When asked how they met, the man’s story went one way—he said they crossed paths on Facebook—while the woman claimed they matched on Tinder. Quite the mix of stories right there!
What Was Found?
As the deputy conducted a probable cause search, he stumbled upon an aluminum foil pipe in the woman’s purse and remnants of marijuana throughout the vehicle. But that wasn’t all: a pill bottle on the driver’s side contained an anti-anxiety medication alongside some “larger blue pills.” When questioned about those blue pills, the man attempted to quietly say they were Viagra, evidently concerned about what the woman might think.
As things unfolded, the driver seemed a bit flustered. When asked about the woman’s name, it was clear he didn’t have a clue. He even struggled to find their earlier conversations when prompted to share his messages with her.
The Arrangement
However, the evidence was piling up. Their chat started off with nude photos before the woman laid out her rates—she was offering a discount from $225 to $200 for a half-hour session, stating it was her last weekend on the island. Arrangements were made to meet in the parking lot of the inn and head to the man’s condo at the Island Links Resort.
The driver openly showed the officer that he was using an escort service called SkipTheGames. He admitted that this wasn’t his first time paying for sex, revealing that he had done so about a year ago down in Miami.
The Arrest
Turning his attention back to the woman, the deputy informed her that he believed she was “engaged in acts of prostitution.” Her response? She asked if the man was going to jail too, since he was involved as well. Interestingly, she even attempted to justify her actions by reminding police that prostitution was legal in some other countries. A quick defense, but not enough to change the situation.
Legal Complications
South Carolina law is quite comprehensive in defining prostitution. It doesn’t just apply to those engaging in sexual acts but can also include aiding, abetting, or transporting someone for those purposes. Yes, that could mean both the sex worker and the client could find themselves in legal trouble.
In this particular instance, the officer opted not to arrest the man due to “officer discretion,” as he was “extremely cooperative throughout the whole situation.” Although the woman was forthcoming with details about the arrangement, she wasn’t considered cooperative overall in the investigative process, leading to her being the only one arrested.
Conclusion
While prostitution arrests are infrequent in Beaufort and Jasper counties, it appears this case made the headlines due to the late-night antics and the unique circumstances surrounding it. As prostitution remains a taboo subject often shrouded in privacy, law enforcement finds it tricky to build cases surrounding it. All of this unfolds as a reminder that even on this gorgeous island, reality can shift—sometimes at 1:30 a.m..
