A prostitution and pandering sting landed eight men and a woman in jail Wednesday night as undercover officers met them one by one at a Statesboro area hotel.
    Throughout the evening, suspects paid visits to the hotel, where they were met with police officers instead of the woman they expected. The woman arrested on prostitution charges offered services to an undercover officer, police said.
    Statesboro Public Safety Director Wendell Turner said the Statesboro Police Department Crime Suppression Unit conducted the covert operation. The eight males were charged with pandering (solicitation of sex for pay.)
    “One male received an additional charge of obstruction of a law enforcement officer for resisting arrest (and) another male received an additional charge of possession with intent to distribute a Schedule II narcotic,” Turner said.
    Kimberly Sue Gast, 48, of West Broadhurst Road in Screven, Ga., was charged with prostitution.
    The following men were charged with pandering:
      Kevin Ivey, 35, Holly Road, Sylvania (also charged with obstruction of a law enforcement officer);
      Robert Alan Davis, 34, Jef Road;
      Alexander William Prather, 22, Robin Hood Trail (also charged with felony possession with intent to distribute a Schedule II narcotic – prescription pills);
      William Wiley Tyson, 23, Stambuck Lane;
      Clayton Caraway, 37, North Chaney Drive, Vidalia;
      Tony Lee Gay, 28, Morgan Road, Metter;
      Cheney M. Hutcheson, 28, Miller Street Extension
    All suspects were taken to the Bulloch County Jail, where they later posted bond and await further court action.
    Investigators did not identify the hotel at which the sting took place to protect the business, Turner said.
    
    Holli Deal Bragg may be reached at (912) 489-9414.