The investigation into a prostitution ring in Godley has taken a dramatic turn with the arrest of Ashley Ketcherside, the wife of a man previously apprehended in the case. This development comes as authorities expand their inquiry into the alleged activities at the Ketchersides’ residence.
Ashley Ketcherside was taken into custody in Godley on Tuesday, according to sources familiar with the situation. Her arrest is part of an ongoing investigation led by the Johnson County District Attorney’s Office in conjunction with the Texas Department of Public Safety. Reports indicate that she was arrested without incident.
Prior to her arrest, Ashley had publicly defended both herself and her husband, Michael Ketcherside, asserting their innocence in a conversation with a local news outlet. She emphasized that she was neither a prostitute nor a victim of trafficking, describing her husband as a devoted family man. “He’s a great husband, an amazing father to my three kids, and I believe in the justice system,” she stated. “I’m absolutely no victim of my husband or anybody else. I know that the truth will come out,” she added.
Michael Ketcherside, who was arrested on April 8, is now facing an additional charge of racketeering, in addition to the initial charge of continuous promotion of prostitution. As of now, no bond has been set for him regarding the new charge.
The backdrop of this investigation reveals a broader conspiracy involving multiple individuals, including former members of the Godley Police Department. In total, three people were arrested during the initial phase of the investigation, which included Michael Ketcherside and former Chief of Police Matthew Cantrell, who was charged with promoting prostitution. Another former officer, Solomon Omotoya, faces charges for soliciting prostitution.
Court documents suggest that the Ketchersides were involved in running the prostitution operation out of their home, a location frequented by Godley police officers. Furthermore, it is alleged that they collaborated with Cantrell to gather information on perceived adversaries, including local government officials and members of the Godley ISD school board.
Ashley Ketcherside’s past has also come into focus during this investigation. She was previously removed from a Godley ISD committee overseeing the district’s sex education curriculum after it was revealed that she had been convicted of prostitution twice, in 2012 and 2016. During her time on the committee, she was found to be advertising services on escort websites, leading to her removal from other volunteer positions as her history came to light.
