Man and woman arrested on prostitution charges

A Columbus man and woman were arrested Saturday after a neighbor complained about two people entering a vacant house on Dawson Street, police said.

Martha Sims, 42, and VW Lawhorn, 52, were arrested after police stopped the Ford Ranger Lawhorn was driving in the 2400 block of Dawson Street about 7:57 a.m. Sims was charged with prostitution, giving false information to law enforcement and loitering or prowling. Lawhorn faces one count each of solicitation of sodomy and loitering or prowling. Both are held in the Muscogee County Jail for a 9 a.m. hearing Monday in Recorder’s Court.

Lawhorn told police that he was only visiting at the residence with his friend after picking her up on an unknown street. He went to the rear of the building and gave Sims $10 for oral sex. Sims agreed the two were visiting at the house but said she didn’t perform any sex act on Lawhorn or receive any payment from him.

At the county jail while Sims was getting process, a female deputy searched Sims and removed 10 $1 bill from inside her clothing. She also had claimed to be Michelle Reeves but fingerprints determined that she actually was Sims.

This story was originally published May 14, 2016 at 6:06 PM with the headline "Man and woman arrested on prostitution charges."