Six Arrested in Lauderdale County Child Sex Crimes Sting

According to media reports, six people were arrested during a joint law enforcement operation in Lauderdale County targeting adults allegedly attempting to engage in unlawful sexual activity with children.
Authorities say the operation took place Friday and Saturday and focused on adults allegedly willing to travel, or who traveled, to the Florence area with the intent of meeting children for unlawful sexual acts.
Firearms were reportedly seized from four of the six people arrested.
Charles Steve Druckemiller, 44, of Clearwater, Florida; Kirk Joel Berryman, 61, of Tuscumbia; Christopher Martin Elmore, 37, of Waterloo; Christopher Blake Hall, 51, of Florence; and Justin Lee Pace, 38, of Florence, were each charged with first-degree human trafficking and traveling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act.
All five are being held without bond pending Aniah’s Law hearings.
William Riley Hughes, 34, of Florence, was charged with solicitation of prostitution and is being held on a $500 bond.
The operation involved the Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office, Lauderdale County District Attorney’s Office, Florence Police Department, FBI Birmingham Division and West Alabama Intercept Task Force.
Lauderdale County Sheriff Joe Hamilton said protecting children is one of his highest priorities and warned that those who attempt to target children in the county will face law enforcement action.
All charges are accusations, and those arrested are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.